The 68th meeting of the National Logistics Board (NLB) was held under the chairmanship of the Honorable Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives (PDSI) and Chairman NLB, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal. Other members of the apex logistics body attended the meeting.
Quartermaster General Pakistan Army / Officer In-Charge (OIC) NLC and DG NLC briefed the Board on the organization’s operational, administrative and financial matters.
The Board was briefed on notable achievements made by the organization in advancing regional connectivity with particular emphasis on the diversification of export options for Pakistani products and the establishment of Forward Transit Trade Hubs at Serhatabat (Turkmenistan), Termez (Uzbekistan) and Kashgar (China). The Board was further informed of new initiatives of NLC aimed at strengthening logistics infrastructure and enhancing value addition and export of agricultural products.
During the 68th Board Meeting of the National Logistics Corporation (NLC), Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Chairman of the Board, Ahsan Iqbal, directed NLC to focus on expanding the Sost Dry Port and establishment of Khunjrab boarder terminal as strategic hub for promoting Pakistan's exports and strengthening regional trade connectivity. He also emphasized the need to establish a state-of-the-art driving academy aligned with international standards to train skilled drivers capable of meeting global market demands. He further stressed that trainees should be equipped with foreign languages skills to facilitate effective communication and coordination with counterparts, particularly in the context of cross-border trade and logistics under CPEC.
He further stated that the logistics is no longer merely about moving goods from one place to another; it is the backbone of a competitive economy, the foundation of resilient supply chains, and a strategic enabler of national security and sustainable development. Countries that have transformed their economies have done so by reducing the cost and time of doing business through efficient transport, multimodal connectivity, digital logistics, and seamless trade facilitation. For Pakistan, improving logistics is not simply a sectoral reform it is a national economic imperative. As we pursue the goals of URAAN Pakistan, particularly export-led growth, industrial competitiveness, and regional connectivity, an efficient, integrated, and technology-driven logistics ecosystem will be indispensable.
Today’s meeting provides us an opportunity to review our progress, address bottlenecks with urgency, and align our collective efforts to build a logistics system that supports higher exports, attracts investment, strengthens regional trade, and positions Pakistan as a leading connectivity hub linking South Asia, Central Asia, China, and the Middle East.
The Minister Ahsan Iqbal also commended NLC’s performance and acknowledged its leading role in the modernization and transformation of logistics sector of Pakistan.
