Cargo flights from Pakistan suspended by international carriers
Exporters in Pakistan have expressed serious concern over the stoppage of air cargo shipments from the country. According to Pakistan's Air Cargo Agents Association, all the leading airlines, including Al-Saudia, Lufthansa and Air France, have suspended their cargo service from Pakistan in the aftermath of the terrorist strikes against the United State of September 11.
Most of the exports affected are leather goods and perishable items such as fruit and vegetables. An official said the only airlines which are accepting air cargo from Karachi are Pakistan International Airline (PIA), Gulf Air and Emirates, which cannot cope with the demand. The only alternative is for the goods to be exported by sea and air to Dubai from where onward air connections are available.
The chairman of Pakistan’s Tanners Association Farrukh Saeed said in a statement that the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) should act urgently and take steps to save the country's exports from a total collapse. He suggested that the EPB should request the national carrier, PIA, to acquire aircraft to airlift export consignments that are piling up in the factories of the exporters.
