Meat Exporters demand action on additional adhoc charges imposed by Gerry’s Dnata
Pakistani meat exporters have expressed serious concerns over the imposition of additional adhoc charges on meat export by Gerry’s Dnata, warning that the move could affect Pakistan’s export competitiveness and disrupt exports to key global markets.
The All Pakistan Meat Exporters and Processors Association (APMEPA) has formally approached the Ministry of Commerce on the matter, requesting the federal government to intervene immediately and withdraw these “unauthorized and unnecessary” charges imposed on exporters. According to the association, Gerry’s Dnata recently imposed an additional charge of Rs 50 per kilogram on meat exports and exporters have been warned that if this charge is not paid, their consignments will not be processed for export.
All Pakistan Meat Exporters and Processors Association (APMEPA)
Reactions on Charges on Meat Export
Meat exporters say such measures are imposing an unnecessary financial burden on the industry and significantly increasing the cost of exports at a time when Pakistan is trying to increase its exports. This additional charge amounts to about $180 per tonne, which will significantly increase logistics costs and may reduce the competitiveness of Pakistani meat in global markets.
Chairman APMEPA Mian Abdul Hanan said that Pakistani exporters are already facing tough international competition, where even a slight increase in logistics costs affects market share. He stressed that stable and reasonable costs are essential for promoting exports, while such sudden and unilateral charges not only increase the financial burden but can also damage the reputation of Pakistan’s export supply chain.
Halal Meat Exporters and Meat Processors in Pakistan
Terming the charges meat export as unnecessary, the association said that if they are not withdrawn immediately, not only will export costs increase, but global buyers may also shift to low-cost alternative suppliers. This is likely to harm Pakistan’s meat exports. The association has also questioned the legality of these charges on meat export, arguing that exporters are not responsible for these costs. The relevant handling and service charges are already paid by the airlines, so any financial or operational issues should be resolved between the airline and the service provider and not directly transferred to the exporters.
Prime Meats and Food – A Meat Exporting Company
Demand for Action
The association has demanded that the prime minister take immediate notice of the matter and direct the relevant authorities to ensure that exporters do not face any anti-export measures. It warned that if the issue is not resolved immediately, it could affect the growth of Pakistan’s meat exports, which is one of the country’s emerging value-added export sectors.
