ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal said on Monday that the National Logistic Cell (NLC) should formulate a five-year business plan by setting clear objectives of the organisation for transforming it into a leading transportation company of the region. Chairing a meeting of National Logistic Board, he said that Pakistan was poised to become trade and commerce hub in the region and NLC should prepare to take advantage of future opportunities. He directed that NLC should identify mid-term to long term targets for enhancing the operational capability and efficiency of the organization for future trucking and logistic needs especially in the backdrop of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which would generate enormous opportunities in logistic sector. The board also authorised NLC to hire a well-reputed management consultancy firm for formulation of five-year business plan. It also accorded approval to audit accounts of financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13. “NLC is playing important role in national development of Pakistan and it should modernise its fleet for provision of efficient services. NLC is the backbone of logistic sector in the country and should focus on its core business,” he said. The minister said that NLC should also align itself with the development portfolio of the country by anticipating the future requirement of the country in logistic sector. He said that CPEC would create enormous opportunities in freight and logistics and NLC can benefit from these opportunities through improving its organizational capability. He directed the organisation to explore transportation opportunities on western route of CPEC as well as at Gwadar, which was the key node of mega project. The NLC should undertake the study to explore potential avenues on this corridor for its future growth, he said. The minister also issued the directions for completion of National Logistic Framework and Trucking Policy at its earliest for bringing improvement in the trucking and logistic sector of Pakistan.