ENROLLMENT OF NSTN PVT LTD AS TRANSPORT OPERATOR UNDER INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT AGREEMENTS OF PAKISTAN




ENROLLMENT OF NSTN PVT LTD AS TRANSPORT OPERATOR UNDER INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT AGREEMENTS OF PAKISTAN

Ministry of Communication, Government of Pakistan enrolled M/s. North South Transport Network Private Limited Company as operator under International Transport Agreements. Pakistan signed different agreements with neighboring and regional countries to facilitate trade and transport among them.  In these agreements only three bilateral agreements are operational with Afghanistan, Iran, China whereas multilateral agreement with China, Kazakhstan and Kirghizstan is also operational.  Bilateral agreements with Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Tajikistan needs to be operational for better connectivity by road. 

Muhammad Anwar, Chief Executive of the company stated that operating road transport across the border needs full support from the government and heavy investment. Currently, Pakistan is allowing only Afghan transit goods to be transited through Pakistani territory, whereas transit goods of China, Kirghizstan and Kazakhstan needs to be facilitated at all at any port of Pakistan. Last a Pakistan government facilitated a trial run shipping containers arrived from China by to Gwadar port and shipped to different countries however thereafter no business is developed. China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a bilateral project in which Pakistani ports especially Gwadar port will be utilized as transit and transshipment port. If Pakistan government support private sector they can bring multi-billion dollars earning for Pakistan. Pakistan earned some UD$3.6 billion through freight export services in 2016.

Pakistan is well connected by road with Afghanistan, Iran, India and China and via China with Tajikistan, Kirghizstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia, whereas via Iran Pakistan connects Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Georgia and Caspian Sea.