Agents urge PIA to start flying mangoes to the UK

© Imran Ahmed

Air cargo agents are urging Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate a seasonal freight service to the UK, specifically for mangoes. The agents’ association, ACAAP, wrote to the country’s president asking for services to London from Lahore and Karachi. Despite being one of the top five mango-producing countries in the world, Pakistan only exports 5% of them, some 100,000 tons. The agents have also asked the country’s competition commission to investigate air freight pricing, which they claim prohibits exports. PIA, which does not appear to have freighters in its fleet, is this month embarking on a “soft” marketing process for the sale of 49% of its shares, with the following 51% available for sale in two years.