ISLAMABAD – National Logistics Cell (NLC) has signed a memorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) with German Daimler AG for local production of worldrenowned Mercedes-Benz trucks by NLC in Pakistan.
The MoU was signed on behalf of NLC by Major General Mushtaq Faisal, DGNLC, and Zia Ahmed, CEO Pak NLC Motors, and on behalf of Mercedes-BenzSpecial Trucks by Klaus Fischinger, head of Executive Committee, and DrRalf Forcher, head of sales at Woerth, Germany.
Also present at the signing were Naseem Shaikh, director and generalmanager Shahnawaz Ltd, and Ahmed Naeem of Shahnawaz Ltd, the authorizeddistributor of Daimler AG in Pakistan.
It is considered that local assembly of Mercedes-Benz trucks by NLC willmark a major shift in the domestic logistics and transportation industrytowards European manufacturers.
Speaking on the occasion, Major General Faisal termed the MoU as anhistoric moment for Pakistan’s commercial vehicle industry. He said thatlocal assembly of Mercedes-Benz trucks would prove a strategic opportunityto leverage the modernisation of Pakistan’s logistics industry which wouldbenefit tremendously from having a state-of-the-art assembly plant inPakistan being setup by NLC.
The incentives given in Auto Policy 2016-21, local assembled Mercedes-Benztrucks would be offered on competitive prices. He added that it will bringqualitative change in local vendor industry and will provide opportunitiesfor new jobs.
Dr Ralf Forcher, member of Executive Committee and head of sales andmarketing, Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, said: “Pakistan’s infrastructureand construction sectors have registered significant growth in recent yearshaving a direct effect on the logistics industry as it gives rise to anincreased demand for commercial vehicles.
In addition, the CPEC project is also playing an important role in raisingdemand in this sector. Modern transportation networks built under CPEC willlink seaports in Gwadar and Karachi with northern Pakistan, as well aspoints further north in China and Central Asia.