Mango exporters blame foreign airlines for Pakistan's falling exports
"Airlines, mostly foreign companies, are utilised for quick shipments of mango export orders. However, not only do they charge exorbitant freights, but several times they become a cause of the exports’ failure," All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) Patron-In Chief Waheed Ahmed told The Express Tribune.
For instance, foreign airlines charge on an average Rs175 per kilogram to transport mangoes to Manchester from Karachi and Rs175 per kilogram to London. In comparison, the same airlines charges only Rs85 (PKR) to transport one kilogram of mangoes to Manchester from Bombay and Rs120 per kilogram to London from the Indian city.
“There is no huge difference between the destinations [Manchester and London] from Karachi and Bombay. However, there is a huge different in freight charges. Why?” he questioned.
“This is open discrimination against Pakistan. India is our only one regional competitor,” said Ahmed. The high transportation rate charged by airlines only applies to mangoes, as otherwise the rate is Rs90 per kilogram for other fruits and vegetables from Pakistan, the official added.
1 RS = 0.016 USD
Read more at tribune.com.pk
