KARACHI: Taking another step forward to strengthen trade relations between Pakistan and China, K2 Airways and a Chinese state-owned Development and Logistics Group signed an agreement to operate cargo flights from Karachi to Kashgar.
The agreement was signed at a prestigious ceremony held at a local hotel in Karachi, where Sindh Minister for Industries and Commerce Jam Ikramullah Dharejo was the chief guest. The event was also attended by officials from the Chinese consulate.
The private airline will begin its flight operations at the end of this month from Karachi to Kashgar via to Lahore.
Initially, the airline would operate three cargo flights a week and has plans to expand after establishing its network.
Dharejo said that Pakistan and China are brotherly countries that are already bonded with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
“It [K2 Airways] will be the first airline to operate cargo flights in China,” said Dharejo while talking to media.
“Chinese buyers are interested in Pakistan seafood, therefore, the cargo flights will be a great facility for them.” Chinese people were also interested in bringing IT products to Pakistan, he added.
A representative of the Chinese firm said that Kashgar is an important trade city in China, and this agreement will further expand to other cities of the country.
On the occasion, K2 Airways CEO Tariq Majeed Raja said that the airline would expand its cargo flight operations to other cities in China.
“The cargo flights will export fruits and vegetables to China. While China will export e-commerce products to Pakistan via these flights,” Raja concluded.
The company, backed by “successful UAE-based Pakistani businessmen and professionals with an astounding passion for aviation”, is the first of its kind in Pakistan to introduce Embraer E-Jets in the country’s commercial aviation, The News reported.
The company said that it aims to link “under-utilised” and “smaller airports” of Pakistan with Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore to make travel convenient for national travellers.
The businessmen and professionals backing the airline believe in “utilising modern automation tools and gathering young and dynamic professionals” in the team to create a strong, technologically apt, and digitally enabled aviation entity in Pakistan.
