The Turkish Airline has assured for reduction in freight charges & provision of excellent facilities to promote export of fruits & vegetables to Frankfurt, London and other Western International markets.
After a ban of six months on the national flag carrier for its flight operation to Europe, the export of fruits & vegetables faces a big problem. Keeping this problem in view, the commercial counselor of Pakistani Embassy in Istanbul, Bilal Khan Pasha had a meeting with the Chairman of Turkish Airline, ILKER AYCI and spoke about commencement of commercial flights of the Turkish Airline from Pakistan, particularly export of fruits & vegetables to the European Union. During the meeting the Chairman of Turkish Airline extended assurance for commencement of flight operation from Pakistan and export of fruits & vegetables through the Airline to the European Union. In backdrop of this meeting, a delegation of exporters led by Waheed Ahmed the Patron-in-Chief of All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers & Merchants Association (PFVA) had a meeting with the General Manager of Turkish Airline, Gurhan Sozen in Karachi. The delegation of PFVA consisted of Shehzad Warriach, Saeed Khan , Muhammad Zulifqar & Shazia Mateen .
Waheed stated that due to six months’ ban imposed on the national carrier by the European Union for it’s flight operation, Pakistani exporters have been deprived of privilege, the national carrier recently extended by reducing freight charges assisting the exporters in bringing down the cost of export shipments particularly mangoes & other fruits & vegetables and thus Pakistani exporters are now likely to be victimized by the foreign carriers due to their high freight charges! Comprehending problems of Pakistan exporters of fruits & vegetables due to the ban on the national carrier, Pakistani commercial counselor Bilal Khan Pasha had a meeting with the chairman of the Turkish Airline stressing the need for closer cooperation during this specific situation. Pakistan is a brother Islamic country of Turkey and the Turkish Airline has assured to extend full cooperation and support at the time when the national flag carrier is currently confronted with the challenging issue of acute shortage of manpower – Waheed, making it very difficult to export mangoes and other fruits & vegetables by Air to Europe, the sincere offer of cooperation & support by the Turkish Airline to facilitate export of this sector is commendable.
Meeting of the PFVA delegation with the General Manager of Turkish Airline in Pakistan, Gurhan Sozen to promote co-operation has been very fruitful. Pakistani exporters stressed the need for reduction in freight charges & provision of special handling facilities for perishable cargo i.e, export consignments of fruits & vegetables by the Turkish Airline so as to facilitate export of fruits & vegetables to Europe, UK & Canada. Pakistan & Turkey are tied up in a deep & strong relationship of Islamic culture & brotherhood and both the courtiers stood united during the difficult times by assisting and cooperating. Economy of Pakistan is under immense pressure due to the global pandemic of coronavirus and this pressure can only be released by enhancing exports of the country. Cooperation from the Turkish Airline in this context to maintain exports and to attain the export target would be of great help. Pakistan strongly desires and is keen to export fruits & vegetables through the Turkish Airline on a long term basis.
Taking advantage of this wonderful occasion, the General Manager Turkish Airline Gurhan Sozen assured for reduction in freight charges and provision of excellent ground handling facilities for the export shipment of fruits & vegetables. The GM requested that the PFVA shall provide him details of export volume so that space required for each export shipment can be well estimated and planned accordingly. The PFVA, at the earliest, would furnish details about export volume of mangoes & other fruits & vegetables shipments & space requirements to the Turkish Airline for Europe , UK , Canada & other countries so that with the support of the Turkish Airline , export of Pakistani fruits & vegetables to these export destinations can be maintained . The delegation of PFVA also presented a gift of delicious Pakistani mangoes to the GM, Gurhan Sozen. According to Waheed Ahmed, the regional cargo head – South Asia of the Turkish Airline,Halit Tuncer has also assured cooperation & support for export of fruits & vegetables from Pakistan . The Director South Asia also shared that the TA has already prepared a schedule of flights for Karachi, Lahore & Islamabad and it would be a pleasure to facilitate export of fruits & vegetables from Pakistan.
Waheed Ahmed appreciated extensive efforts of Pakistani commercial counselor Bilal Khan Pasha based in Istanbul for making grounds for cooperation by the Turkish Airline and initiation of a meeting with the high officials of the Airline in Pakistan with the delegation of PFVA. Bilal Khan is a glorying example of tireless efforts who is striving hard in provision of facilities to the Pakistani exporters besides further cementing economic ties between Turkey & Pakistan.
