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Aftab Maken
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iraq have agreed to boost maritime cooperation and explore new sea routes by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to start a ferry service between Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port and Pakistan’s Gwadar Port.
The agreement was made 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 Abdulqadir Sulyman Alhimiri.
Welcoming the initiative, Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry called it “a new chapter” in bilateral relations. He said that connecting the two countries through passenger and cargo ferry services could further strengthen growing economic ties and religious travel.
The minister also pointed out that Pakistan can supply Potassium Sulphate to Iraq, as a production facility is already available in the Gwadar Free Zone.
Discussing the broader benefits of sea travel, the minister noted that ferry services could provide an affordable and reliable option for Zaireen (pilgrims) traveling to Iran and Iraq.
“Beyond tourism and business, this service can greatly help religious travel. We can offer pilgrims a new, safe, and low-cost option for their journeys,” he said.
He further explained that ferry services could be very useful, especially for religious travelers. “Each year, around 700,000 to 1 million Pakistani Zaireen visit Iran and Iraq. If even 20% of them choose ferries in the first three years, that would mean 140,000 to 200,000 passengers annually. This has strong economic potential,” he added.
Consultations with stakeholders, including private operators and regional maritime authorities, are ongoing. Feasibility studies and regulatory planning are being finalized, and a pilot launch is expected in the coming weeks.
