In a major step toward enhancing regional connectivity and trade, Pakistan has announced plans to launch a direct ferry service between Gwadar and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen economic ties with GCC states. It is a region Pakistan has increasingly targeted for trade, investment, employment, and energy cooperation.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry described the ferry project as a new economic lifeline for Balochistan, which is intended to make the travel process easier for the masses, boost tourism, and spur trade with Middle Eastern markets.
Potential impacts
“The ferry service is anticipated to strengthen people-to-people ties, boost tourism and assist in creating jobs at the local level,” Chaudhry said, according to a government handout.
He added that the move would improve supporting infrastructure in Gwadar, attract private sector participation in shipping services, hospitality, and transportation, and generally uplift the province.
A Broader Vision for Gwadar
The declaration came after a high-level meeting in Islamabad where officials also discussed expanding Gwadar Port’s operational capacity.
Junaid has chaired the session, directing relevant departments to fast-track the integration of Gwadar into international maritime networks. Plans include establishing new shipping lines to promote transit trade with Central Asia and the Middle East.
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“We are intended to change Gwadar into a strategic transshipment and logistics center,” he said.
It is located in Balochistan’s southwestern coast, Gwadar Port was developed under the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), integral component of China’s global Belt and Road Initiative. Despite its strategic location near Gulf shipping lanes, Gwadar has struggled to compete with Pakistan’s older, busier ports in Karachi.
Junaid claimed these new initiatives are designed to
- Rebalance trade flows
- Reduce congestion at existing ports
- Position Gwadar as Pakistan’s premier gateway to the Gulf and beyond.
Engaging Stakeholders for Success
The Maritime Ministry has already initiated consultations with shipping organizations
- Maritime authorities
- Private operators to design the ferry service’s technical, legal, and logistical frameworks.
Safety, affordability, and environmental sustainability are considered to be the major steps of the plan to guarantee it meets modern standards and is accessible to travelers and traders alike.
Looking Ahead
Minister Chaudhry again and again stated the government’s dedication to Pakistan’s National Maritime Policy, with an emphasis on expanding the blue economy through
- Better port infrastructure
- Trade facilitation.
If successful, the Gwadar-Gulf ferry service could become a true reflection of regional cooperation, bringing jobs, investment, and new opportunities to all of Pakistan.