In August 2026, GLA Global Logistics Alliance concluded its Pakistan mission across Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, marking a major step forward in regional cooperation. During the visit, the Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA) and GLA signed a Memorandum of Understanding. As a leading global B2B logistics platform, GLA is leveraging the partnership to advance the integration of regional logistics ecosystems with global supply chain networks.
The PIFFA Multimodal Logistics Conference 2026 opened in Karachi on August 19 under the theme "The Transformative Role of Artificial Intelligence in Shaping the Future of Freight Forwarding in the Changing World." The event brought together FIATA leadership, Pakistani industry representatives, and regional logistics entrepreneurs for in-depth discussions on AI applications, digital trade, and multimodal transport.
PIFFA Chairman Jamil Ahmed delivered the welcome address. Babar Badat, former President of FIATA and former Chairman of PIFFA, delivered the opening keynote, highlighting how AI is reshaping not only operational efficiency but also the structural logic of competition for supply chain enterprises.
Welcome address by Jamil Ahmed, Chairman, PIFFA
Keynote Address by Babar Badat, former President of FIATA and former Chairman of PIFFA
In her address, Ms. Grace Sun, President of GLA, stated: "The essence of business competition has shifted from competition between enterprises to competition between supply chains."
This observation points to a profound transformation in how the logistics industry organizes itself. The capacity of any single enterprise is no longer sufficient to navigate global trade uncertainties. GLA's integrated global practice system-globalized procurement, globalized sales, and globalized operational collaboration-offers a systemic response: organizing global resources through a platform to turn collaboration from incidental to structural.
On China-Pakistan cooperation, Ms. Sun noted that as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) enters a new phase of high-quality development, Pakistan is seeing substantial growth opportunities in cross-border transport, cold chain logistics, and digital logistics. GLA is working to advance China-Pakistan logistics connectivity from corridor construction toward deeper industrial collaboration.
Ms. Grace Sun, President of GLA, delivers her keynote address
FIATA President Prof. Dr. Thomas Sim addressed the advancement of eFBL digital bills of lading, digital trade trust frameworks, and UNCITRAL standards for negotiable cargo documents. He emphasized that logistics enterprises in developing countries should actively participate in shaping global standards rather than passively awaiting implementation. The consecutive presentations by GLA and FIATA on the same platform sent a consistent message: as global logistics rules are being reshaped, emerging markets have a strategic window to strengthen their industry voice.
FIATA President Prof. Dr. Thomas Sim delivered speech
GLA's engagement with Pakistan has been steadily building. In 2024, the Consul General of the Embassy of Pakistan in Guangzhou visited GLA's Shenzhen headquarters for discussions on bilateral logistics cooperation. That same year, Ms. Grace Sun was invited to speak at the Pakistan-China Business Conference, where she joined government and business leaders from both countries.
Pakistan sits at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, a pivotal node in regional trade corridors. GLA remains committed to strengthening collaboration with logistics enterprises in Pakistan and the broader South Asia region. Through institutionalized partnerships and sustained engagement, GLA continues to deepen its understanding of local market dynamics and drive meaningful integration between global supply chain networks and regional logistics ecosystems. This path not only creates favorable conditions for member enterprises but also reinforces GLA's standing as a connector of global logistics infrastructure.