Trade Chronicle May - June 2020

Travel World
PIA grounds 141 pilots
Pakistan Inter-national Airlines (PIA) has
grounded 141 pilots whose licences are
suspected to be fake. Subsequently, all
foreign missions, global
regulatory and safety bodies
have been informed by PIA
about the said action with a
view to protect its credibility.
PIA spokesman said that the
airline had immediately
grounded all 141 pilots,
whose names are mentioned
in the list issued by the
ministry of aviation and CEO
PIA, Air Marshal Arshad also
informed about the steps
taken by the PIA to all foreign missions.
He said that the CEO PIA also informed
the Aviation Ministry about airline's
action and added that the names of
senior officials of Pakistan Airline Pilots
Association (PALPA), including its
spokesman, Captain Qasim Qadir, were
also mentioned in the list.
Moreover, he said that out of total 141
suspected pilot license holders, 17
airmen were identified by the airline
almost 18 months ago. He said that
captain Yahya Sindhela, who was
allegedly responsible in the Panjgor air
crash, was also in the list and added that
the scrutiny of pilots' credentials had
been commenced after the Panjgor
crash.
Meanwhile, Captain Chaudhry Salman,
President PALPA, sought the Chief
Justice of Pakistan's (CJP's)
intervention into the matter and
requested him to constitute a Judicial
Commission comprising competent
persons and experts from aviation
industry in order to ensure fair and
transparent inquiry into the suspected
licence case. He said that the
commission should investigate the
proposed list of allegedly fake
pilot licenses and start the
process from Palpa. All PIA
pilots present themselves to
any inquiry under the auspices
of the Supreme Court, he
added. "Our goal is not to
defend the 141 PIA pilots but
to protect Pakistan's identity,
protect the dignity of
Pakistan's aviation industry
and fight for the rights of the
pilot community," he said.
He criticised the aviation
minister for revealing the list and its
contents. He accused the aviation
ministry of issuing the list of pilots having
suspected licences without carrying out
research and investigation "with the aim
to defame pilots' community".
(Courtesy: Business Recorder)
Emirates resumes scheduled
services from Pakistan
Mango exports: PIA announces
up to 30 percent reduction in cargo tariff
Emirates has resumed scheduled services
from Pakistan, operating flights from
Karachi and Lahore to Dubai 09 June
2020. The resumption comes after over
two months of travel restrictions imposed
globally due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Emirates is operating 14 weekly flights to
Dubai, including seven from Karachi, five
from Lahore and two from Islamabad
using its modern Boeing 777-300ER
aircraft. Passengers can book tickets for
Economy and Business Class. From
Pakistan, the airline is flying UAE residents
and citizens, as well as cargo to Dubai.
From Dubai to Pakistan, the airline is flying
in only cargo. Travellers will only be
accepted on these flights if they comply
with the eligibility and entry criteria
requirements of the UAE government.
Pakistan International
Airlines (PIA) has
announced to reduce
the air cargo tariff for
mangoes exports, up
to 30 percent in
different weight slots
to support governmental efforts for
boosting country's exports amid the
global shutdown.
According to details, the decision was
taken after a series of talks between PIA
and the representatives of All Pakistan
Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers
and Merchants Association, Academia,
and Mango Farmers & Growers. Pakistan
annually exports around 10,000 metric
tonnes of high quality mangoes by air,
mostly to different destinations in Europe,
Americas, Gulf and Middle East regions,
TRADE CHRONICLE - May.~ June. 2020 - Page # 31
earning handsome
foreign exchange for
the county. However,
with Covid-19 global
economic meltdown
and lockdowns, the
growers were seeking
support from the government for any
stimulus in this regard. Minister for
Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan personally
directed CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad
Malik to analyse and lead the high level
initiative.
Therefore, PIA has decided to reduce the
air cargo tariff for mango exports up to 30
percent in different weight slots in order to
jump start the export process and to
ensure that it is not impacted by the
prevalent crisis.