Since 1 February 2006, SIA Cargo has been able to offer air cargo carriage to and from Karachi and Lahore in Pakistan on a new route with the commencement of SIA’s three-times weekly service to the two cities.
The service departs Singapore on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday each week, at 1535 hours, and operates a circular routing to both Karachi and Lahore. It opens an important route between Pakistan and other regions, namely, South-East Asia, South-West Pacific and North America, through the Singapore Changi Airport hub.
In these two pages, we highlight some of the important facts about Karachi and Lahore.
Karachi: Economic
Nerve Centre Of Pakistan
Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan and the capital of the province of Sindh, is the country’s financial and commercial hub, accounting for more than 60% of the Gross Domestic Product and generating 68 percent of the national revenue. Naturally, it is the business centre and technological hub of Pakistan.
Located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, with a population estimated at about 14 million, Karachi is one of the 10 largest cities in the world. The city’s growth has been phenomenal, transforming itself from a coastal village 150 years ago to a mega city with a diverse mix of regional cultures and the highest literacy rate and the most prestigious educational institutions in the country.
Known as the City of Lights, Karachi has attracted many of Pakistan’s public and private banks to locate their head offices there. Many foreign multinational corporations have also made Karachi their base of operations. Not surprisingly, the Karachi Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Pakistan. The city’s financial boom contributed significantly to Pakistan achieving its ambitious goal of recording over seven percent growth in GDP in 2004-05.
Information and communications technology, electronic media and call centre services are the more recent additions to Karachi’s business activities.
Karachi also has a huge industry base, with textiles, pharmaceuticals, steel and automobiles as the main industries. The Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, is the largest airport in Pakistan.
The major import commodities of Karachi are vaccines, electronics, computer spares, raw materials for pharmaceuticals, engineering components and chemicals. Major export commodities include leather and leather products, pharmaceuticals, carpets, textile and textile garments, seafood, meat, vegetables, fruits and handicrafts.
SIA CARGO KARACHI
Karachi Airport Office
Tel: +92-21-4595808 / +92-2-4671742 / +92-2-4671976
Fax: +92-21-4595827
Operating Hours
Sales & Reservation: Mon-Sat 0900-1730 hrs
Operation: Mon 1500-2330 hrs / Wed/Sat 1400-2300 hrs
Contact: Shahbaz Ahmed, Cargo Sales &
Operations,Manager
Lahore: Cultural Centre With Rich History
The
Badshahi Mosque.
Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan and the provincial capital of Punjab. It is an academic and cultural centre with a rich and fascinating history. According to legend, Lahore was named after King Lav, the son of the Hindu God Rama, who ruled the city in ancient times. Lahore is also a Mughal showcase. From 1524 to 1752, it was part of the Mughal Empire, the most glorious chapter in its history, and Mughal architecture can be seen in the Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens.
The center to Lahore’s economy is the Lahore Stock Exchange, Pakistan’s second largest stock exchange which is linked to the Karachi Stock Exchange. Lahore is the second largest financial hub of Pakistan and home to many IT and software firms.
The city never seems to sleep. Its markets open long into the night and food and restaurant businesses cater round-the-clock from dinner to breakfast to dinner.
Lahore is famous as the hub of handmade carpet manufacturing. Hand-knotted carpets produced in and around Lahore are among Pakistan’s leading export products and their manufacture is the second largest cottage and small industry. Ninety-five percent of the carpets are produced for export.
The modern Allama Iqbal International Airport (AIIAP), which has the capacity to handle more than 5 million passengers, has a modern Cargo Village with facilities to handle the full range of air freight.
Punjab, the province to which Lahore belongs, is one of the most industrialised provinces of Pakistan. Its thriving manufacturing indus-try produces goods including textiles, sports goods, machinery, electrical appliances, surgical instruments, metals, bicycles and rick-haws, floor coverings and processed foods.
Punjab is also a rich agricultural region. Its canal-irrigation system established by the British is the largest in the world. Wheat and cotton are the largest crops. Other crops include rice, sugarcane, millet, corn, oilseeds, pulses, fruits, and vegetables. Livestock and poultry production are also important.
Punjab’s major cargo commodities include textiles, carpets, surgical instruments, hosiery, sheep casings, leather and leather products, sports goods, handicrafts, fresh fruits and vegetables.
SIA CARGO LAHORE
SIA Car Cargo go Town Office
Ali Complex 23-Empress Road, Lahore.
Tel: +92-42-6369988 Fax: +92-42-6369987
Operating Hours:
Mon-Sat 0900-1730hrs
Operation Office
Level-3, Room#3151 Allama Iqbal International
Airport, Lahore.
Tel: +92-42-6611532 / +92-42-6611534 Fax:
+92-42-6611533
Operating Hours:
Mon 1300-2030 hrs
Wed/Sat 1430-2330 hrs
Contact: Wajahat Ali Khan, Asst Cargo Sales Manager
