Overview
- The federal cabinet cleared a direct ferry link between Gwadar and Oman, with the announcement made by Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry.
- Officials say a memorandum of understanding is planned and an Omani delegation is expected to visit Pakistan to finalize operational arrangements.
- Pakistan has issued its first-ever international ferry service licence, establishing rules for private operators to run passenger services to Gulf destinations.
- Government projections suggest Gwadar’s export revenue could exceed $850 million annually, led by about $645 million from value-added fisheries and roughly $200–205 million from dates.
- The service is framed as a lower-cost, lower-emission option that would aid tourism, ease travel for a large Pakistani diaspora in Oman, and offer Oman quicker access to Central Asian markets.