Following pressure from Pakistan’s horticulture export industry, flag airline Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) agreed on Wednesday to lower freight charges for fresh fruit bound for Gulf and European countries.
The fee drop is just in time for the beginning of Pakistan’s mango season, waylaying fears the previously high fees could curb exports to Europe by as much as 20 per cent, reported the Daily Times.
Under the new fee scheme, PIA will charge Rs110 in freight fees per kg of fruit, compared to Rs116 previously. For palletised produce, fees will drop to Rs100 per kg from Rs112-113 previously.
Pakistan’s mango industry had previously announced plans to boost exports from last year’s 70,000 tonnes to 125,000-130,000 tonnes this year.
That ambitious boost will be helped by the lower airfreight fees, and will be worth about US$40m.
Gulf countries will be the primary focus of the export growth, where Pakistani mangoes and kinnows have previously had success.
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