Treading a fine line

Qatar shipping company set to launch what it claims to be the quickest direct service between Doha and Karachi

As the four-nation economic blockade of Qatar continues, a new development has occurred that involves our country. A Qatari shipping company is set to launch what it claims will be the quickest direct service between Doha and Karachi this week. State-run corporation Milaha is supervising the venture, with the first vessel due to arrive at the newly-inaugurated Hamad Port on September 11 following a transit time of four days — compared to a typical six- or seven-day trip.

Before the dispute, most of Doha’s shipments to and from Pakistan docked at Jebel Ali port in the UAE. But with the Emirati port now out of bounds as a trans-shipment centre, Qatari companies are increasingly exploring alternative links to penetrate the Asian market effectively. Business analysts see this as a “win-win” situation for both countries especially Pakistan, whose remittances from Qatar plunged by almost 10 per cent in July compared with the previous fiscal year, according to the latest government figures. However, the authorities must be urged to tread carefully on these risky waters. Given Pakistan’s history with Saudi Arabia, with the two countries enjoying strong economic and strategic ties, we must be cautious not to annoy our Saudi allies at this time, particularly when the rhetoric employed by the United States has recently been quite harsh. Perhaps furthering trade with Qatar is Pakistan’s way of playing “good cop” during the regional tensions, but can Islamabad truly gain from this alternative lifeline of Qatar.

On the issue of Qatar, it may be said that Pakistan continues to walk a diplomatic tightrope. Although parliament expressed deep concern at the onset of the conflict, the government stopped short of taking a side. Here, we must be wary since restoring trade links quite possibly manifests an opinion, and this side clearly opposes the stance adopted by Saudi Arabia and the states allied to it.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2017.

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