Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that new technologies are needed to be introduced in every sector to boost economic growth in the country. He was speaking at the launching ceremony of aluminium tank trailer organised by Automobile Corporation of Pakistan (ACP) at a hotel here on Saturday.
He said the country's economy was growing rapidly due to the effective policies of the present government. "There is need to continue with this growth to alleviate poverty and to become a developed nation," he said.
The CM said that the government was ready to provide all necessary support to introduce new technology in all sectors, and invited the private sector to come forward to play its role for the development of the country.
He appreciated Heil Asia Limited, ACP and Mowraize Enterprises for introducing state-of-the-art fuel tank-trailers made from aluminium, and said that the transportation cost would be decreased after using of this aluminium tank-trailer.
The managing director of ACP, Khayam Husain, said that these vehicles not only would comply with UN standards, but would also comply with the standards developed by Ogra, and axle load was as per NHA rules.
Heil Asia Limited spokesman Jeff Edwards said that the benefit of aluminium tank in fuel supplies was that aluminium, being non-corrosive, did not contaminate the fuel being carried--a phenomenon quite common in steel tanks. Furthermore, aluminium being only one-third in weight to steel also enables the transporters to carry more cargo and stay within NHA legal load regulations. Other benefits include non-sparking property of aluminium and its reflectivity, which reduces product losses.
Earlier, Transport Manager of Shell Pakistan Limited, Anwar Salahuddin, said that Shell had been the forerunner in improving the standards of road transport in fuel deliveries. 'Shell is the only OMC in Pakistan to have started Bottom Loading in its fuel tankers. Bottom loading is faster, safer and a most efficient way to fill the tank-lorries. With the induction of aluminium tanks in its transport fleet, Shell has shown the way forward to all OMCs operating in the country.
He said such trucks would help prevent many accidents that plague the country's roads. On the salient features of this trailer, Anwer Salahuddin said that use of API-approved tank equipment would help prevent losses in case of tank overturning, under-run accidents, and use of ABS brakes would also provide greater control to the driver.
The first of the aluminium tank-trailers will be owned and operated by Shell Pakistan haulier, Mowaraize Enterprises, in Karachi.
These tank-trailers are built on UN ADR Standards for the carriage of dangerous goods by road. These impressive vehicles have been built under a joint co-operation between Heil Asia Limited and ACP. Heil Asia Limited is the world's largest manufacturer of tankers for road. The launching of aluminium tank-trailers in Pakistan will enable companies like Shell Pakistan Limited to ensure full integrity of the fuel being carried in a safe and efficient manner.
ACP is the leading manufacturer of specialised vehicles such as semi-trailers, fuel tankers, military and municipal vehicles. The Chief Executive of Mowraize Enterprise, Shahjehan, said that the newly introduced aluminium tank-trailers would be more efficient and would be more useful due to quality.
Mubin Siddique, General Manager, NHA, John Snodgoas, Vice President, Oil Trailers USA, Ejaz Ali Khan, Shell Pakistan Limited, NLC officers, oil tanker owners and others attended the ceremony. Later, Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim inaugurated an Aluminum Tank-Trailer by cutting the ribbon.