About the Association

Haroon Farooki

Warehousing and logistics have emerged as the most modern sector during the last two decades, facilitating and supporting the agriculture and industrial sectors which contribute the major share of national GDP. In this era of automation and fierce competition, industries and brands are striving to deliver the best quality goods to their consumers, and are looking towards modern warehousing services — through expansion as well as collaboration — to add value to their supply chain management.

The manufacturing sector covering FMCG, pharmaceuticals, food and dairy, textiles, cement, construction, heavy machinery and earth-moving equipment, as well as e-commerce companies, have established their own modern warehousing and logistics facilities or collaborated with service providers who have built such facilities for the purpose.

With huge capital investment, revenue generation for the Government and the creation of employment opportunities, special value-added services have transformed warehousing and logistics to international standards, with inventory management and storage upgraded on modern lines using the latest tools, equipment and machinery. Purpose-built and temperature-controlled warehouses are revolutionary moves to support all segments of the economy; cool chains and specialised logistics have become mandatory requirements for both agriculture and industry. Billions of rupees have been invested by local and foreign investors in modern warehousing and logistics.

Recognising the significance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its Special Economic Zones, the creation of modern warehousing with specialised logistics is crucial to the needs of CPEC projects and of manufacturing industries across Pakistan — through temperature-controlled units, bonded and non-bonded warehouses, cold storages, bulk storages, commercial warehouses and distribution centres, silos and other purpose-built facilities.

The State Bank of Pakistan, recognising the pivotal role of modern warehousing and logistics in supporting agriculture, has introduced its Financing Facility for Storage of Agricultural Produce (FFSAP) and the Islamic Financing Facility (IFFSAP), encouraging the private sector to establish silos, warehouses and cold storages with long-term financing for establishment, expansion and balancing, modernisation and replacement. At the request of the Association, the SBP is also considering extending these schemes to industry. The Federal Commerce Ministry has accorded priority to cold storages and warehouses in its Draft National Domestic Commerce Policy, and the Board of Investment has ranked the sector among its priority sectors.

In view of the foregoing, the Warehousing & Logistics Association holds the mandate to represent the sector as the national association and to emphasise that warehousing and logistics has progressed into a full-fledged allied industry. Its establishment is an imperative and pragmatic move to work with the Government, regulatory bodies, institutions and other stakeholders to promote and develop warehousing through business policy advocacy, public service and recommendations for improving the business environment. The Association is led by the most experienced businesspersons in the field, successfully engaged in the warehousing and logistics business for several decades.

I, as the Founder Chairman, cordially welcome business concerns engaged in warehousing and logistics to become members of the Association — to avail the services and support of a legitimate and recognised platform for business policy advocacy, business promotion and development, improving warehousing and logistics standards and safeguarding genuine business interests. On behalf of the Association, I assure you of our highest consideration and support.