According to Syed Haris Raza, Gerry’s dnata Vice President - Pakistan, the company has placed Pakistan’s biggest order for ground support equipment, worth $7m, and will be investing another $11m in a bid to double the storage capacity of its warehouse at Karachi airport. These investment initiatives were undertaken shortly after Gerry’s dnata was signed on to handle ground services for Saudi Arabian Airlines, which operates 40 flights a week to and from Pakistan.
Raza commented on the development plans. “The investment in equipment, building and infrastructure is being done keeping in view the growth in Pakistan’s economy and its aviation industry. Our investment is our trust in Pakistan’s economy,” he said. “Investment for expansion at the Karachi warehouse will double its storage capacity from the current 120,000 tonnes per year,” he went on to say.
The handler expects to take receipt of the newly ordered GSE at its Pakistan base in the next five to six months, with orders arriving from various countries including France, Belgium, the UK, Canada, Dubai and China. As for the building works, Raza said that the expanded warehouse would be in operation by the final quarter of 2017.
With the addition of operations at three new airports – Multan, Faisalabad and Quetta – Gerry’s dnata now provides services at seven airports across the country, and is presently preparing a feasibility report to expand its services to Rahim Yar Khan and Gwadar airports, says Raza. “Some airlines have asked us for the feasibility report for the two airports. Later on, they may also do the same themselves.” However, the company ethos is all about quality and not quantity, informs Raza: “We want to be the most admired ground services provider across the globe.”
