A delegation representing Kashmir's papier-mâché and pashmina exporters met with trade officials this week to propose a dedicated air-cargo route connecting Srinagar directly to Gulf markets, arguing that current routing through Delhi adds both cost and days of delay.

Exporters say freight currently has to move overland to Delhi before it can be consolidated onto international cargo flights — a process that can add three to five days and, according to one exporter's estimate, roughly 15–20% to total shipping cost per consignment.

"Every extra handling point is a chance for damage, and craft items like papier-mâché are fragile," one exporter said. "A direct lane would change our margins meaningfully."

The proposal is still in early discussion, and officials have not committed to a timeline. Similar direct-freight proposals have been raised in past years without resulting in a permanent route, according to exporters familiar with the discussions.

If approved, the route would primarily benefit small and mid-sized workshops that currently can't absorb the added logistics cost the way larger exporters can.