ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Türkiye are exploring the possibility of launching a ferry service to enhance maritime connectivity between the two countries.
The development came during a meeting between Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and Türkiye’s Minister of Transport. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in shipbuilding, maritime operations, and ship-breaking industries.
During the meeting, Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry invited Turkish investors to invest in Gwadar’s maritime and port sectors.
In response, the Turkish side informed him that a delegation of investors would soon visit Pakistan to explore potential opportunities.
Earlier, the federal government has approved the first ferry service licence.
Applications by ferry operators have been pending since 2017 -18. Taking a fast-track route, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs on Monday approved the first ferry service licence to an international ferry operator.
The UK-based company — ‘Sea Keeper’— will operate ferry routes connecting Pakistan with Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
The government is under serious pressure from around one million pilgrims who attend Arbaeen (Chehlum of Imam Hussain) in Karbala, as land travel to Iran has been stopped without any notice recently.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has led the move by fast-track approval to ferry service operators who had filed applications in 2017 and 2018.
The minister emphasised that ferry service will not only provide the pilgrims going to Iraq and Iran a safe and secure travel but it also provides an opportunity for boosting regional connectivity as well as economic activity via sea routes.