Pakistani stores eye Indian markets

April 23, 2012

New Delhi, April 23: From running a single franchise store for 12 years in Delhi to planning to open 200 more across Mumbai, Delhi and smaller cities, Pakistan's largest fashion retail chain Sefam is the stuff businesses dream of.

After a successful showing at the first-ever Lifestyle Pakistan exhibition in Delhi, Sefam said the demand for Pakistani couture in India is too huge to be met through the one store they have in India.

The retail chain with eight brands including Barezee, is first planning a flagship store in Delhi , and also scouting for partners, said Zain Aziz, Sefam's head of international business.

They are one of several Pakistan lifestyle businesses ambitious about expansion plans in India following the huge response to the April exhibition.

Over 100 Pakistani lifestyle companies showcased their products and services in Delhi from April 12 to 15. The companies were from a wide range of segments , including textiles, couture and pret wear, designer furniture , leather accessories, food products, marble ornaments and handicrafts.

The exhibition has spurred 36-year-old designer Asim Jofa to plan exclusive outlets in India. Jofa has been selling in India through a distributor for the last three years, but is now eager to have his own stores. "I can't wait to start my own stores in India. It would be brilliant if we could trade with each other. After the wonderful response at the exhibition , I feel more than at home now," said Jofa.

Kashif, group CEO of leading Pakistani retail brand Chen One, which specializes in lawn prints and dresses, pret dresses and home textiles, said he is encouraged by the significant sales and bulk enquiries in Delhi. The retail chain is also looking to setting up stores across India once trade norms ease.

"Up until now, trade between the two countries has been indirect . But now we don't want that. It will be a win-win situation for both countries if we could increase trade," Kashif said. The brand is all set to come back for an exhibition in Mumbai to be held after two months, which will enable it to look for local partners. "We are looking for a joint venture here. We are very keen to work with India," he added.

With huge demand for Pakistani muslin and lawn dresses, Pakistani retailers said India could figure as their largest market after the US and UK if trading were to be opened up.

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Chaos continues as IndiGo cancels more flights including 73 from Bengaluru airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Domestic carrier IndiGo has cancelled over 180 flights from three major airports — Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru — on Thursday, December 4, as the airline struggles to secure the required crew to operate its flights in the wake of new flight-duty and rest-period norms for pilots.

While the number of cancellations at Mumbai airport stands at 86 (41 arrivals and 45 departures) for the day, at Bengaluru, 73 flights have been cancelled, including 41 arrivals, according to a PTI report that quoted sources.

"IndiGo cancelled over 180 flights on Thursday at three airports-Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru," the source told the news agency.

Besides, it had cancelled as many as 33 flights at Delhi airport for Thursday, the source said, adding, "The number of cancellations is expected to be higher by the end of the day."

The Gurugram-based airline's On-Time Performance (OTP) nosedived to 19.7 per cent at six key airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad — on December 3, as it struggled to get the required crew to operate its services, down from almost half of December 2, when it was 35 per cent.

"IndiGo has been facing acute crew shortage since the implementation of the second phase of the FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) norms, leading to cancellations and huge delays in its operations across the airports," a source had told PTI on Wednesday.

Chaos continued at several major airports for the third day on Thursday because of the cancellations.

A spokesperson for the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru said that 73 IndiGo flights had been cancelled on Thursday.

At least 150 flights were cancelled and dozens of others delayed on Wednesday, airport sources said, leaving thousands of travellers stranded, according to news agency Reuters.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has said it is investigating IndiGo flight disruptions and has asked the airline to submit the reasons for the current situation, as well as its plans to reduce flight cancellations and delays.

It may be mentioned here that the pilots' body, Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), has alleged that IndiGo, despite getting a two-year preparatory window before the full implementation of new flight duty and rest period norms for cockpit crew, "inexplicably" adopted a "hiring freeze".

The FIP said it has urged the safety regulator, the DGCA, not to approve airlines' seasonal flight schedules unless they have adequate staff to operate their services "safely and reliably" in accordance with the New Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms.

In a letter to the DGCA late on Wednesday, the FIP urged the DGCA to consider re-evaluating and reallocating slots to other airlines, which have the capacity to operate them without disruption during the peak holiday and fog season if IndiGo continues to "fail in delivering on its commitments to passengers due to its own avoidable staffing shortages."

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