Commerce ministry seeks probe into new meat export cargo charges

The Ministry of Commerce has asked aviation authorities to investigate additional logistics charges on meat exports, following complaints from exporters that the fees are inflating costs and threatening the sector’s international competitiveness.

In a letter dated March 17, the ministry requested that the director-general of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority examine allegations that Gerry’s dnata is levying an unauthorised Rs50 per kilogramme charge on meat consignments, warning exporters that shipments would not be processed unless the fee is paid. Exporters estimate the levy adds roughly $180 per tonne, a significant cost increase in a highly competitive global market.

The communication followed a complaint from the All Pakistan Meat Exporters & Processors Association. Ministry officials noted that the Prime Minister’s Committee on Export of Surplus Food Items to GCC Countries had been informed on March 15 that the charges were withdrawn. Exporters, however, maintain that the fees are still being applied in practice.

The ministry has asked the aviation regulator to resolve the matter and update the committee on the outcome. Industry representatives warned that continued uncertainty over cargo costs could disrupt shipments of perishable meat products, which rely on tightly managed cold-chain logistics and air cargo operations.

Pakistan’s meat exports have grown steadily over the past decade, supplying halal meat to markets across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa. Exporters said predictable logistics costs are critical to sustaining growth and competing with established suppliers such as Brazil and Australia. They urged authorities to ensure that cargo handling fees remain transparent and regulated to protect the sector’s competitiveness and support the country’s foreign exchange earnings from value-added food exports.