Air Cargo Lost Millions on Strikes and Suspension of PIA Flights

Clashes between Government of Pakistan and PIA Unions caused millions in losses to exporters and importers

PIA is facing delays or even suspensions of flights from both national and international routes. The suspension and delays of national carrier caused millions of rupees in the losses to local exporters and international cargo companies. Cargo perishable goods worth of millions of rupees were stuck in the cargo at different airports including Karachi and Lahore.

What is the cause of strike?

Due to the heavy losses to the government-owned airline, the government is looking to privatize the airline but the employee unions are opposing the actions of government. They started strikes across the country and stopped all kind of operations in the country. More than a week now, all operations are suspended and the airline is facing further losses.

What is the current situation?

As the flight schedule has been suspended more than a week, the business community is facing more losses and has demanded the government of the incumbent to negotiate with the employees union for restarting the flight operations across the country. the business community is facing delays in sending cargo to Arab countries and receiving cargo from the UK to Pakistan and from other European American countries. Businessmen urge for an urgent solution to this issue, the foreign customers will start receiving their imported goods from Pakistan and locals will start receiving the cargo to Pakistan.

What kind of cargo damaged?

There are several kind of goods were stuck at the airports but the perishable cargo like fruits and vegetables and halal meat of more than 20 tonnes have been perished.

These cargo goods were pending to be delivered to United Arab Emirates, US and several European countries.  Due to the PIA shutdown, these cargo goods have not been delivered to these countries and caused losses of millions of rupees.

What percentage of cargo transported through PIA?

According to the association of vegetables and fruits exporters, more than 30 percent of the perishable goods cargo through Pakistan’s national carrier PIA, however, remaining 60 to 70 percent cargo transported through other foreign airlines to European, American and Arab markets.

The local transporters are bearing a loss of more than Rs 4 million every day, however, the foreign clients will not trust the Pakistani exporters in future. European and American super stores import Fruits, vegetables and halal meat from Pakistan and the local exporters will be in the position of bearing the hefty losses of millions of rupees every day or even the loss of their foreign clients.