Islamabad, March 19, 2026 – The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has strongly criticized the unilateral imposition of additional charges on export cargo by ground handling agencies (GHAs), warning of serious consequences for Pakistan’s export sector.
FPCCI Regional Chairman and Vice President Zaki Aijaz said that companies including Gerry’s Dnata and Raas (AMI) Air Menzies International have introduced extra fees ranging between PKR 25 to 50 per kilogram on export cargo. He stated that the move has created an estimated financial burden of around PKR 40 million per day, escalating to PKR 1.2 billion per month.
He explained that such charges were previously recovered through airlines and not directly from exporters. However, GHAs are now bypassing this mechanism and imposing direct charges, which FPCCI termed unjust and against established practices.
Aijaz warned that exporters are already grappling with rising freight costs and operational expenses, and the additional burden could significantly impact key sectors, including textiles and pharmaceuticals. He further noted that the move may violate regulations of the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) by sidestepping the airline billing system.
Other industry leaders also voiced strong opposition. Jameel Ahmed, Chairman of the Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association, warned of a possible nationwide halt in cargo operations if the charges are not withdrawn. Similarly, Rana Tariq of the Air Cargo Agents Association of Pakistan said exporters cannot sustain such unexpected costs.
Business representatives, including Masood Alam and Muhammad Hanan, cautioned that the additional charges could disrupt exports, particularly in the meat sector.
FPCCI has urged the government to immediately intervene, withdraw the charges, review GHA licenses, and launch a transparent investigation, warning that such measures could undermine Pakistan’s $100 billion export target and damage its global trade credibility.