Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced a 30% cut in air freight rates in support of export and foreign exchange earnings of the country,to reduce pressure on mango exporters fearing low international sales due to limited demand and lockdowns,
The decision was taken on Thursday after a series of negotiations between a PIA delegation led by the director, Air Marshal Arshad Malik, officials and exporters.
Pakistan exports about 10,000 tons of high-quality mango by air annually, with most of its fruits ending up in Europe, America, the Gulf and the Middle East, picking up violent foreign currencies.
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"Pakistani mango is a sought-after delicacy worldwide and is known for its sweetness and quality. Unlike Kinnow, however, the shelf life of the mango is shorter, making air exports the most profitable option," said PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan.
"PIA is a leader in airfreight with a market share of over 50% and therefore its contribution in this respect is paramount," he said.
With the Covid 19 pandemic and subsequent shutdowns, breeders sought government support and incentives, he said.
Khan announced that Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar has instructed PIA CEO Arshad Malik to analyze and take the initiative. "In order to start the export process as quickly as possible and to ensure that the products were not affected by the current crisis, it was decided to immediately reduce the air freight rate for mango exports in various weight classes by up to 30%," he said. .
According to the airline, this measure will alleviate and ease the pressure on mango producers already suffering after the Covid 19 crisis. "This is another step in the national flagship's series of initiatives to promote Pakistan and its products to support the government and the country in times of need," he said.
PFVA Welcomes the Decision
According to all Pakistani Exporters, Importers and Traders of Fruits and Vegetables (PFVA), Director General Waheed Ahmed, who was involved in the negotiations, effectively highlighted the burning problem of the high air freight costs imposed by the national flagship.
He pointed out that the discussion was also about closing the Iranian border, which would hinder land exports of mangoes.
Both issues have caused problems for both manufacturers and exporters, who fear that multi-million dollar shipments will be damaged due to government restrictions on traffic.
It welcomed the speedy resolution of the exporters' problems by the government, citing them as a historical example taken in the interests of the country.
"The PIA has cut shipping costs, and now it's almost half the amount foreign airlines charge for destinations such as the UK, other European countries, the Middle East and Japan," he said.
The reduction in freight costs combined with the assurance of delivery of improved logistics facilities for mango exports to various destinations was the result of a determination by the PIA director, Ahmed added.
"With such attractive freight rates, it is a must to have regular flights from Karachi, Lahore and Multan during the mango export season," he said. "If the PIA provides good services, we expect 50% of the mango exports to go through the national flagship."
He believed that the timely and timely decision of political leaders would greatly facilitate the exporters and the millions of workers associated with the sector.
