Pak, Iraq to launch ferry service from Gwadar to Umm Qasr
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iraq have agreed to enhance maritime cooperation and explore new sea routes by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a ferry service between Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port and Pakistan’s Gwadar Port.
The agreement was finalized during a meeting between Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and a three-member delegation from the Iraqi Embassy in Islamabad, led by Deputy Head of Mission Abdul Qadir Sulyman Alhimiri.
Welcoming the initiative, Minister Chaudhry described it as “a new chapter” in bilateral relations, highlighting the potential of maritime passenger and cargo links to deepen economic cooperation and facilitate religious travel between the two countries.
The minister noted that Pakistan can help meet Iraq’s demand for potassium sulphate, with a manufacturing facility already operational in the Gwadar Free Zone.
He also sought Iraq’s support for Pakistan’s candidacy in the upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) elections. In response, the Iraqi delegation assured its backing.
The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations tasked with ensuring the safety, security, and environmental sustainability of international shipping.
“The ferry connection can leverage our shared cultural and religious ties while unlocking new business opportunities,” Minister Chaudhry said, emphasizing the potential for increased port activity and supply chain development under Pakistan’s blue economy strategy.
The ferry initiative comes at a time of rising cross-border religious travel. In 2024, over 88,000 Pakistani pilgrims visited Iraq for Ashura observances—an encouraging indicator for establishing regular sea links catering to both pilgrims and traders.
