KARACHI: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has increased cargo handling charges at all airports across the country, with some rates rising sharply — up to 100 % in certain cases. The new rates came into effect on July 1, as stated in an official notification.
According to a newspaper report, this is the first revision in cargo fees in the last five years. The PAA said the hike was approved by its executive committee and is meant to match the rising operational costs of airport services.
Under the new rates, the fee for transporting pet birds has gone up by 50%, from Rs200 to Rs300 per kilogram. Charges for shipping betel leaves have doubled, now costing Rs70 per kilogram. General cargo charges have also been raised by 25%, from Rs100 to Rs125 per kilogram.
The updated tariff list also includes revised fees for transporting pets like cats and dogs, and other items classified as general cargo.
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Officials justified the increase, saying that airport costs had gone up in recent years, while cargo charges had remained the same since 2019.
The PAA is an autonomous public body formed in August 2024 under the Pakistan Airports Authority Act. It aims to improve airport operations and air transport services in the country.
Ishaq Dar Urges UK to Lift Ban on PIA Flights:
In other news, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan is in active talks with the UK to lift the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights.
He made this statement during a meeting with PIA Chief Executive Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, who asked for renewed diplomatic efforts to restore PIA’s flight operations in the UK.
Mr Hayat thanked the foreign minister for his support and said earlier efforts under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government had helped both PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) meet safety standards required by international auditors.
As a result of these improvements, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is expected to lift its suspension of PIA flights in November 2024.
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PIA flights to the UK and Europe were banned in June 2020 after Pakistan’s then aviation minister revealed in parliament that nearly one-third of the country’s commercial pilots held suspicious licences. His remarks came after the tragic crash of PIA flight PK8303 in Karachi on May 22, 2020, which killed 97 people.
Following the statement, the UK Civil Aviation Authority and EASA both suspended PIA’s operating permit in June 2020.
The flight ban caused major losses for the national airline, with the government reporting an annual revenue loss of nearly Rs40 billion due to the suspension of services to key international routes.
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