KARACHI: Pakistan’s meat exporters on Tuesday sought Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s intervention over the imposition of additional adhoc charges of $0.18 (Rs50) per kilogram on meat exports by travel and visa services firm, Gerry’s Dnata, warning the move could disrupt shipments and erode Pakistan’s market share.
Pakistan exported meat, including beef, mutton and poultry, worth $512 million in fiscal year 2023-24, according to the country’s statistics bureau. Exporters say the adhoc charges will total $180 per ton, sharply increasing logistics costs.
According to Pakistani officials, the country’s halal meat production stands at 6 million metric tons, of which a substantial quantity is available for export after meeting the local demand.
The All Pakistan Meat Exporters and Processors Association (APMEPA) said on Tuesday they were operating in a highly competitive global market where even small increases in logistics costs could determine market share.
“Pakistan’s exporters require stable, predictable and rational logistics costs in order to remain competitive in global markets,” APMEPA Chairman Mian Abdul Hannan said, warning that the “sudden and unilateral cost increases” could undermine the credibility of Pakistan’s export supply chain.
