Ministry of Commerce Seeks Probe Into Additional Cargo Charges on Meat Exports

The Ministry of Commerce has sought the intervention of aviation authorities over complaints by meat exporters regarding additional logistics charges on export consignments, warning that the issue could disrupt Pakistan’s meat exports.

In a letter dated March 17, 2026, the ministry asked the Director General of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) in Karachi to investigate “unauthorised additional charges” allegedly being imposed by cargo handling firm Gerry’s Dnata on meat export shipments.

The move follows a complaint by the All Pakistan Meat Exporters and Processors Association (APMEPA), which said the charges were increasing export costs and undermining the sector’s competitiveness in international markets.

Exporters claimed that Gerry’s Dnata had recently introduced an additional charge of Rs. 50 per kilogram on meat exports and warned that consignments would not be processed unless the payment was made. According to industry representatives, the levy translates into around $180 per tonne, significantly raising costs for exporters operating in competitive global markets.

Officials at the Ministry of Commerce noted that the Prime Minister’s Committee on Export of Surplus Food Items to GCC countries had been informed during a meeting on March 15 that the additional charges had been withdrawn. However, exporters maintain that the issue persists in practice.

The ministry has therefore asked the aviation regulator to examine the matter and resolve it in consultation with stakeholders, and to update the committee on the outcome of the inquiry.

Exporters warned that continued uncertainty over cargo handling costs could disrupt shipments of perishable meat products, which rely on efficient cold-chain logistics and timely air cargo operations.

Pakistan’s meat export sector has grown steadily over the past decade, supplying halal meat to key markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, as well as Southeast Asia and parts of Africa.

Industry stakeholders emphasised that predictable logistics costs are critical to sustaining this growth, particularly as Pakistan competes with major exporters such as Brazil and Australia in global markets. They urged authorities to ensure transparency and regulation in cargo handling charges to avoid undermining export competitiveness at a time when the country is seeking to boost foreign exchange earnings.