Iran-US tensions delay ferry service

Licence holder now plans to launch passenger, cargo service between Karachi, Gwadar

ISLAMABAD:

Mounting tensions between the United States and Iran have impeded the launch of ferry service between Pakistan and Iran.

Pakistan has already issued its first-ever international ferry service licence, paving the way for licensed passenger ferry operations between Pakistan and member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as Iran. This licensing framework is expected to provide regulatory clarity, encourage private-sector participation and boost maritime trade and connectivity in the region.

The first ferry licence, approved by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, has been given to international operator Sea Keepers, which authorises the company to operate on routes connecting Pakistan with Iran and the GCC countries. "The company has booked return tickets at Rs50,000 for travel between Gwadar and Iran," a source revealed. The operator has also hired a vessel with capacity of 250 passengers.

However, rising tensions between the US and Iran delayed the launch of ferry service between Pakistan and Iran, sources said, adding that the operator now plans to launch a service between Karachi and Gwadar keeping in view the current Iran-US standoff. The ferry service provider got the licence after a delay of around five years during which its request remained pending and its files moved from one department to another. A terminal has also been set up at Gwadar Port to facilitate passengers and the ferry operator.

It came in the wake of Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry's keen interest in launching ferry services between Pakistan and Iran and other Gulf states. The step was taken in line with directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aimed at boosting commercial activities at Gwadar Port. The maritime affairs minister was of the view that the ferry service would ease pressure on land routes and reduce travel costs compared to air transport for the Pakistani diaspora and pilgrims.

Initial operations were to commence from the ports of Karachi and Gwadar by running modern vessels equipped with essential amenities to ensure safe and affordable travel. Expansion of routes and port calls are also planned based on demand and bilateral agreements.

Pakistan has also offered Turkiye to form joint ventures in shipbuilding and explore the potential for beginning a ferry service. In this regard, Gwadar Port holds immense potential for blue economy-related industries, where Turkish private-sector investors could consider pumping capital into projects around the port. Also, Pakistan has proposed a ferry service with Oman. The federal cabinet has already given the go-ahead for the launch of passenger and cargo movements, an initiative aimed at strengthening maritime connectivity and boosting bilateral trade and tourism.

Pakistan believes that starting a direct ferry route from Gwadar to Oman will generate significant economic benefits through expanded trade, increased investment inflows and transit revenue.

Gwadar's annual export revenue is forecast to exceed $850 million, to be generated primarily by value-added fisheries ($645 million) and the date sector ($200-205 million), while regional partners like Oman get access to a highly efficient route to Central Asian economies.

Pakistan-Oman tourism corridor is seen as a promising avenue for growth, driven by cultural ties, scenic coastal landscapes and short-distance maritime connectivity. The maritime minister suggested that the corridor could become one of the fastest-growing bilateral tourism routes in the region, supporting hospitality, transport and leisure industries on both sides. By combining economic, social and cultural objectives, the ferry service is envisioned as a transformative step in Pakistan-Oman relations, reinforcing cooperation while unlocking new opportunities for trade, tourism and regional integration.