DHL to increase investment in Pakistan
DHL has reaffirmed its commitment to Pakistan with plans to upgrade its business activity and investments. The company has already announced it would invest up to dollars eight million in Pakistan in the next three years, including the construction of a new state-of-the-art airport ‘Airside Facility in Karachi’ and upgrading of its service centres.
Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, DHL Express – Asia Pacific Chief Executive Officer Scott Price said, “DHL sees bright prospects in the region and particularly in Pakistan becoming a major hub for industrial growth. There has been significant business growth in the region and Pakistan’s investment-friendly policies have started to attract international attention. ” “In recent months, there have been clear indications of strong macro-economic fundamentals in Pakistan. At the same time, the region is seeing very buoyant levels of intra-Asian and international trade,” he added.
Price said, “All of these factors combined with political certainty provide very favourable conditions in which we can maintain the double-digit growth of our Pakistan operations. ”
On the occasion, DHL Pakistan Managing Director Salim Awan said, “The DHL’s inbound and outbound shipment volumes for Pakistan have increased markedly and this has made it necessary for us to increase the frequency of our dedicated flights into and out of Karachi and Lahore, DHL’s gateways in Pakistan and to the rest of the world. ”
Salim said, “We have secured significant logistics contracts in Pakistan from leading multinational and local companies,” he added.
Price expressed deep sorrow at the considerable loss of lives and infrastructural damage left by the massive earthquake that struck Pakistan on October 8, this year.
He said in response to the earthquake DHL along with its employees in Pakistan immediately participated in relief efforts.
DHL employees in Pakistan and around the world leveraged their expertise in the management of complex logistics and transportation processes to help deliver aid and relief supplies to the earthquake survivors.
DHL lost no time in offering its expertise to the Pakistani government, Pakistan Air Force and the Army through the Airport Emergency Team (AET) deployed at the Chaklala Air Base in Islamabad.
“The team handled aid supplies from over 230 international relief flights, managing over 9,000 tonnes of relief aid in the process,” said Price.
Copyright 2005 Business Recorder
