KARACHI: The exporters of fruit and vegetable have expressed their concerns over the accelerating protests against the proposed privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and suspension of flight operations.
All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) former vice chairman Aslam Pakhali, in a statement, said that PIA covers 30 to 40 per cent airborne shipments of the country’s fruit and vegetable exports. He revealed that daily volume of fruit and vegetable shipments through PIA stood at around 50 tonnes worth around $100,000.
Pakhali said that the national-flag carrier also increased freight charges last month by Rs10 per kg on fruit and vegetable shipments for all destinations. Custard apple, sapota, green chilli, colocasia, apple gourd and round bottle gourd were being exported to Canada, the European Union, Gulf countries and Maldives at present, he added.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, total fruit exports in July-December 2015-16 were 214,776 tonnes ($180 million) compared to 259,331 tonnes ($196m) a year ago. Vegetable exports went up to 276,544 tonnes ($80m) during the period from 212,575 tonnes ($60m) in the corresponding period last fiscal.
