Pakistan is launching a new ferry service from Gwadar to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening regional transport and tourism links.
The ferry will connect Gwadar Port to destinations in Oman and the UAE, enabling travelers—particularly expatriates, businesspeople, and tourists—direct maritime access between South Asia and the Gulf. Federal Maritime Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry emphasized its role in bolstering people-to-people contact and tourism.
Beyond passenger travel, the service is expected to support cargo movement and boost Gwadar’s operations as a transshipment hub under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Economic analysts predict potential annual revenue in the multi-billion‑dollar range from ferry operations and allied services.
Infrastructure expansion around Gwadar is underway, including port upgrades and a new international airport opened in late . These developments aim to transform the area into a major commercial and logistic center for the Arabian Sea.
For tourists, the ferry opens new travel horizons—giving travelers the option to sail directly to Oman or UAE, and then explore Pakistan’s coastal beauty via Gwadar, Makran, or Karachi.
The initiative also targets employment creation in Balochistan through hospitality, transport, port services, and tourism. It supports cultural exchange and positions Pakistan as a regional travel gateway.
If realized efficiently, the ferry service could mark a paradigm shift in South–Gulf travel: affordable, direct, and culturally meaningful. It may also serve as a model for future maritime corridors, reinforcing Pakistan’s status in regional connectivity.
