KARACHI, Aug 27: Additional cargo space provided by Pakistan International Airlines helped airlift larger quantity of perishables during the year 2003-04.

The Export Promotion Bureau provided financial assistance of Rs22.5 million to PIA from the Export Development Fund (EDF) during 2003-04.

As a result of EPB-PIA partnership, there was no shortage of cargo space for perishable goods, specially for seasonal fruits like mango, kinoo, etc. It was equally encouraging that the national carrier also did not compromise the additional space against its dry cargo.

During the mango season this year, exporters uplifted their shipments to various destinations in Europe, the UK, Canada, the Gulf and Saudi Arabia without having any fear of non-availability of space of offloading of their perishable commodities unlike previous years.

In spite of offering 50 per cent additional capacity for mango uplift viz-a-viz last year, the uplift of dry cargo shipments was not compromised, as was the case in the past. The dry cargo exporters were also offered and allocated 37 per cent additional space by PIA during 2003-04.