Pakistan has licensed its first international ferry service to facilitate the Arbaeen pilgrims and overseas workers, which are direct sea connections of Karachi and Gwadar to Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) such as the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has granted the first ferry licence to UK-based Sea Keepers Private Limited. The service aimed at easing travel for nearly one million Pakistani pilgrims who visit Iraq via Iran for Arbaeen every year. The new ferry route provides a low-cost alternative after Iran recently restricted land border crossings.
Initial operations will begin from Karachi Port and Gwadar Port. Karachi Port Trust confirmed that the immigration and customs facilities handed over to relevant authorities. These routes will be undertaken by modern vessels that will have basic passenger facilities.
The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) will control the activities of ferries, keep the eye on technical compliance and observe quality standards of the ferry services. Five more private-sector companies have submitted proposals, which are currently under review by a high-level inter-ministerial committee.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry stated that this ferry service opens a new economic corridor for religious tourism, overseas workforce mobility, and trade between Pakistan, Iran, and GCC countries.
This has been accompanied by the introduction of digital processing of ferry license through Pakistan single window to facilitate expedited approvals in the future. In the next months more ferry routes will most likely open within the same framework.
The initiative aims to reduce air and road travel pressure, provide alternative transport options for Arbaeen Zaireen, and establish Gwadar as a future maritime travel hub.
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