A new China Pakistan joint venture between YTO Express and Habib Rafiq Engineering Pvt Ltd (HRL Group) formally began operations in Islamabad on 4 June 2026, signalling an immediate push to upgrade the country’s logistics capacity and regional connectivity.
The venture moved from a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Beijing in the presence of the Prime Minister to an operational enterprise at a launch ceremony held at the Serena Hotel. The event drew high-level attendance including Federal Minister for Railways Mr. Hanif Abbasi and Federal Minister for Industries and Production Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan, alongside ambassadors from ten countries with strong interest in transit trade. Among those who spoke were Their Excellencies Mr. Alisher Tukhtaev of Uzbekistan, Mr. Khazar Farhadov of Azerbaijan and Mr. Yerzhan Kistafin, reflecting the project’s regional reach.
YTO HRL combines YTO Express’s global express and technology capabilities with HRL Group’s deep local presence and infrastructure experience. The joint venture will offer integrated services across express delivery, e-commerce fulfilment, warehousing, freight and end-to-end supply chain solutions, introducing automated sorting, fleet management systems and cross-border delivery expertise to Pakistan.
The partners say the operation is built with a regional vision to position Pakistan as the natural logistics corridor between East Asia, South Asia and Central Asia. The presence of Central Asian envoys underscored shared interest in unlocking transit routes that link landlocked markets to Pakistan’s ports and global trade lanes, expanding export and import options for businesses across the region.
Leadership at HRL emphasised long-term national commitment and the aim to translate diplomatic pledges into on-the-ground infrastructure that creates employment and raises service standards. Mr. Zahid Rafiq highlighted the joint venture as a strategic investment for Pakistan’s future, while Mr. Jahanzaib Zahid drew attention to rapid operationalisation and a focus on setting new benchmarks in speed and reliability. Mr. Richard Hu of YTO International described the partnership as a long-term effort to connect Pakistani businesses to China and wider markets through technology and network integration.
As YTO HRL begins operations, the venture intends to roll out upgraded operating standards, transfer advanced logistics technology, and create thousands of skilled jobs, giving Pakistani firms and consumers faster, cheaper and smarter supply chain options while reinforcing Pakistan’s role in regional trade corridors.
