The National Logistics Corporation (Urdu: نیشنل لاجسٹکس سیل), formerly known as the National Logistics Cell, is a Pakistani state-owned logistics company based in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.[1][2] It is considered as the logistics arm of Pakistan Army and operates under its indirect control.[3][4][5]
 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Logistics Freight System |
| Founded | July 20, 1978 |
| Headquarters | , Pakistan |
Area served | Pakistan Afghanistan (formerly) |
| Services | Logistics, freight forwarding, dry ports, border terminals, engineering, construction, tolling, express freight trains, polymers, and sea freight |
Number of employees | 8,000 |
| Website | www |
As of 2011, NLC was responsible for transporting approximately 50 percent of Pakistan's imported crude oil, amounting to about 76,000 barrels per day.[3]
History edit
National Logistics Cell was founded by the Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq government to supply military equipment to Mujahideen fighting the Soviet Union.[6] Later, it was given the freight business of Pakistan Railways by the regime.[7][8] Since its establishment, NLC had also diversified into the construction industry, undertaking various military and civilian infrastructure projects in Pakistan, including roads and bridges.[3]
In July 2011, the Government of Pakistan allowed the NLC to participate in the bidding process for the acquisition of a state-owned construction company, which was a change from its original charter.[3] The decision was made to refocus the NLC and align its activities with its statutory framework.[3] The NLC sought to acquire international assets owned by the National Power Construction Company.[3]
As of 2011, NLC was responsible for transporting approximately 50 percent of Pakistan's imported crude oil, amounting to about 76,000 barrels per day.[3]
In 2014, NLC was awarded the contract to contruct the Rawalpindi section of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus at 1.04 per cent higher than the estimated cost.[9]
Controversies edit
In 2010, a corruption scandal was unearthed that involved two Pakistan Army generals, (Maj Gen Khalid Zaheer Akhtar and Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal), and caused a loss of Rs. 1.8 billion to the company through speculative investments between 2004 and 2008.[10][11] In 2015, both of them were convicted by the military court of Pakistan.[12]
References edit
- ^ "Senate of Pakistan". www.senate.gov.pk. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
- ^ Hussain, Ali (5 August 2023). "Senate passes National Logistics Corporation Bill, 2023". Business Recorder. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Rana, Shahbaz (July 22, 2011). "Army's expanding footprint: NLC allowed to bid for state-owned construction firm". The Express Tribune.
- ^ Newspaper, From the (July 2, 2012). "NLC scandal". DAWN.COM.
- ^ "Rs35 billion budget approved for National Logistics Cell". The Express Tribune. August 13, 2012.
- ^ "Pakistanis Question Perks of Power". Washington Post.
- ^ "Railways and the NLC". The Express Tribune. October 16, 2014.
- ^ Walsh, Declan (May 19, 2013). "After Decades of Neglect, Pakistan Rusts in Its Tracks" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Yasin, Aamir (March 22, 2014). "PM to inaugurate Metro Bus Project tomorrow". DAWN.COM.
- ^ Newspaper, the (July 2, 2012). "NLC scandal". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012.
- ^ "Rs4.3b NLC scam: Military probe finds two ex-generals guilty". The Express Tribune. August 5, 2015.
- ^ "Army sentences two former generals in NLC corruption case". DAWN.COM. August 5, 2015.