RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Major barriers in export of mangoes resolved to facilitate attaining current year’s export target of 80,000 tonnes, though no efforts would be spared to exceed the target, exporters said.

Reduction in the air freight charges by the national carrier-PIA closes the chapter of “monopoly” by the foreign carriers, Waheed Ahmed, the Patron-in Chief of All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) said.

He said major obstacles in export of mangoes have now been resolved making it easier to achieve the export target of 80,000 metric tonnes during the current season. The federal government has opened borders of Afghanistan and Iran for export of mangoes and vegetables giving priority to the trucks carrying these perishable items while the national carrier has also announced concessional air freight charges for the export of mangoes.

According to Waheed Ahmed the burning issues of export of mangoes via land route through Pak-Iran borders and high Air freight charges by the national carrier were highlighted effectively. These issues had assumed state of turmoil for the growers as well as exporters due to negative impact on export of mangoes caused by the coronavirus pandemic and resulting strict lockdown in the country while the mangoes export consignments worth millions of US$ started getting spoiled due to in-ordinate delay in opening of the border. On other hand, the exporters were also encountering problems in export of mangoes due to high freight cost by the foreign carriers.

The special committee of the National Assembly (NA) on agriculture products paid specific attention to these issues and requested to convene an urgent session for addressing these issues of prime importance. During the session all concerned federal ministers and secretaries displaying great team spirit fully focused their attention on these issues and within a short span of three days they managed to resolve the issues.

The chairman of the special committee Speaker NA Asad Qaiser, Federal Ministers Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Fakhar Imam, Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Advisor to the PM on Commerce Razak Dawood evaluated these issues very seriously and with excellent coordination and cooperation among the concerned ministries and departments resolved the issues just in three days and thus the vibrant and vigilant team of the primer safeguarding the national interest deserves appreciation for such a stunning action. The history is unable to produce any example from the past when the trade issues of national interest may have been resolved so expeditiously.

The CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik also participated in this special session and as per directive of committee flew all the way from Islamabad to Karachi to have an urgent meeting with a delegation of the exporters of the PFVA and amicably resolved the issue of high freight charges by the national carrier. The prompt and timely decisions taken by the political leadership would provide great relief to the exporters as well as millions of labourers associated with this sector during the time of this economic crises due to Covid-19 while the people of Balochistan, in particular would be greatly benefited due to creation of ample opportunities resulting because of opening of Pak-Iran border.

The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has also issued notification for the Taftan border to remain opened for seven days a week. With approval of Command and Control Centre after notification from the Ministry of Interior the Taftan border has now been opened for trade and thus the ‘stand still’ export of mangoes has now commenced. The notification issued by the MoC states that there would be no restriction on the number of trucks carrying trade cargo from either side of the border, Wheed Ahmed said. The trade cargo especially mangoes and vegetables would be cleared on priority basis.

The MoC has issued directive to the FBR that for the smooth export of mangoes, the exporters NLC, FC and the Iranian custom officials shall establish an office with mutual cooperation and in absence of any cold storage facility at the border, the export shipments of mangoes destined to Iran must be cleared without any delay.

The national carrier has reduced its freight charges almost half in comparison to the foreign carriers charging for the UK, Europe, Doha, Muscat, UAE, Kuwait, Dammam, Medina, Riyadh, Tokyo, Beijing & Kuala Lumpur. The national carrier would charge $2.5 per kg for UK against $3.4 per kg being charged by the foreign carrier. The freight cost for Europe has been also reduced to $2.5 per kg from $3.4 per kg, $1.00 from $1.3 per kg for Doha, $1.00 from $1.7/kg for Muscat, $1.00 from $2.00/kg for UAE, $1.00 from $2.45/kg for Kuwait and Dammam. Likewise, the national carrier freight charges would be $1.0 per kg for Medina, Tokyo, Beijing, and Kula Lumpur against $2.45/kg being charged by the foreign carriers. The reduction in freight charges with assurance for provision of improved logistic facilities for smooth export of mangoes by the national carriers for various export destinations is result of the firm commitment made by the CEO PIA along with his team during the recent meeting with the exporters of the PFVA, he said.

With such attractive freight rates announced by PIA, it’s imperative to operate regular flights from Karachi, Lahore and Multan during the mango season. Should the PIA ensure to provide good service, it’s anticipated that 50 percent export volume of mango would be switched over to the national carrier. The PFVA on its part would give high priority to the national carrier for export of mangoes assisting the PIA in enhancement of its revenue by curtaining the freight charges paid to the foreign carriers in foreign currency while as a last resort the mango exporters of PFVA would avail services of the foreign carriers if load capacity of PIA gets exhausted. The reduction in freight charges by the national carrier would certainly create a healthy environment for completion leading to abolishment of monopoly by the foreign carriers.

Waheed Ahmed paid deep compliment to the special committee of NA on Agriculture products on addressing and promptly resolving the issues being barriers to the export of mangoes with great national spirit which is a clear reflection of true commitment, dedication and devotion on part of each team member of the Prime Minister Imran Khan, struggling hard with extreme sincerity to serve the country and if this ‘high national spirit’ is maintained, the rate of growth and economy of the country which has been badly impacted due to Covid-19 would soon get out of this crises, Waheed Ahmed said.