Millions of dollars worth of export goods are standing at Karachi airport - rather than being transported to buyers in Europe - due to a lack of cargo capacity on foreign airlines between Pakistan and Europe. All foreign airlines, including Air France, Lufthansa, and Swiss Air, are refusing to accept the goods due to an accumulation of cargo during the peak export season for leather and textiles.

Chairman of the Pakistan Leather Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PLGMEA), Fawad Ijaz Khan, said that direct export deliveries - that under normal circumstances take three to four days – are now taking eight to ten days to reach their destination. Fawad said that leather exporters will incur heavy losses due to these delays and there is concern that repeat orders will be lost.

Share this story: