YTO HRL Logistics officially launched at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad on 4 June 2026, turning a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Beijing into an operational joint venture designed to move goods faster, cheaper and smarter across Pakistan and the wider region.
The ceremony drew senior federal officials and a broad diplomatic presence, underlining the venture’s strategic importance for Pakistan’s trade ambitions. Among those attending were the Federal Minister for Railways Mr. Hanif Abbasi and the Federal Minister for Industries and Production Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan. Delegations from ten countries in Central Asia and beyond signalled regional interest, with remarks from envoys including Mr. Alisher Tukhtaev of Uzbekistan, Mr. Khazar Farhadov of Azerbaijan and Mr. Yerzhan Kistafin.
The joint venture pairs the global reach and technology expertise of YTO Express with the local market knowledge and infrastructure of HRL Group. YTO HRL Logistics will deliver an integrated, technology-powered platform spanning express delivery, e-commerce fulfilment, warehousing, freight and end-to-end supply chain solutions, introducing operating standards and technology transfer that the market has not seen before.
Officials said the venture will create thousands of skilled jobs, upgrade logistics operations across Pakistan and provide exporters and importers with faster, more reliable links to ports and inland transit routes. By combining YTO’s sorting, fleet management and cross-border delivery capabilities with HRL’s nationwide footprint, the joint venture aims to raise service levels for businesses and consumers alike.
Beyond domestic gains, YTO HRL Logistics is explicitly framed as a regional gateway. The presence of Central Asian ambassadors reflects shared interest in unlocking transit trade that connects landlocked republics to Pakistani ports, positioning Pakistan as a natural corridor between East Asia, South Asia and Central Asia.
Leaders of both partners reiterated a long-term commitment to Pakistan’s logistics ecosystem. Mr. Zahid Rafiq, Chairman of HRL Group, emphasised the venture as an expression of trust and a national investment, while Mr. Jahanzaib Zahid, Vice Chairman of HRL Group, and Mr. Richard Hu, Vice President of YTO International, highlighted ambitions to redefine logistics in Pakistan and open new routes to regional markets. With operations now under way, YTO HRL Logistics aims to be a new engine for trade and connectivity across the region.
