Maersk Pakistan added landside transportation in addition to the ocean leg of transport as part of the same booking for the citrus export season in 2019-2020.
The Danish company says, that by adding the truck bookingelement it ensures that the cargo of fruit was picked from the packhouses of the exporters and delivered to container yards near the port via a single booking and a one-window operation.
“The customers did not have the hassle of dealing with multiple vendors and truckers, and typical worries such as concerns over container shortages, vehicle shortages and the associated rate volatility,” stated Maersk.
Pakistan is a thriving agricultural state whereithe agriculture sector contributes more than a quarter of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Amongst the large exports from agricultural produce, the exports of citrus fruits alone generate multi-million dollar revenues in a year for Pakistan.
Aruna Hussain, the managing director of Maersk Pakistan, said the company is moving ahead to develop strong end-to-end cold chain logistics solutions in the country. “This is just the first step towards offering integrated logistics solutions,” he commented.
Furthermore, Maersk offers technology solutions for temperature-controlled cargo, such as remote container management systems and a mobile app called ‘Captain Peter’. With these solutions customers can get real-time information of the reefer containers in which their cargo is moving including details such as the temperature inside the container and other visibility and notification options.
“Additional elements such as Customs House Brokerage and even the possibility of cold storage will provide real end-to-end control and value for movement of a wide range of agricultural produce,” Hussain said.
