QUETTA, Jan 18: The National Logistic Cell (NLC) has started operations beyond Pakistani borders up to Iran and the first consignment of six trawlers carrying 175 tons of rice proceeded to Zahidan, Iran on Saturday.

The caravan had arrived from Karachi via Quetta.

Brig Afzaal Ahmad Chohan, NLC director of transport and marketing on the occasion said around 10,000 US dollars would be saved in one journey. He said the NLC started export operation to Iran under an accord reached in July 2002.

Under this accord Pakistani trawlers can go to any destination inside Iran. He said under the accord this was our first caravan being sent to Iran. He said in future, the NLC had plans to carry export goods to Afghanistan.

Similarly, after Iran we would go to Turkey and Central Asian States but for that we have to make fresh agreements.—PPI