ISLAMABAD: A direct ferry service between Gwadar and Oman is set to begin soon after Pakistan reached an agreement with Muscat to operationalize the new maritime route.
An official from Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Ministry confirmed the plan, saying an Omani delegation will visit Pakistan in the coming days to finalize operational arrangements. The service aims to enhance trade, tourism, and people-to-people contact across the Arabian Sea.
Pakistan’s federal cabinet has formally approved the launch of the Gwadar–Oman ferry service, a move officials describe as a major step toward expanding Pakistan’s maritime outreach.
This follows Pakistan’s earlier decision to grant its first-ever international ferry license to operator Sea Keepers for routes linking Pakistan with GCC countries and Iran.
Authorities hailed the initiative as a “historic step” under Pakistan’s National Maritime Policy, designed to boost maritime trade, connectivity, and sea-based tourism.
Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said Islamabad and Muscat will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to operationalize the new route.
“An Omani delegation will visit Pakistan to finalize arrangements,” he said. The minister added that the ferry link is expected to expand trade volume, attract investment and make travel more convenient and affordable for Pakistani expatriates living in Oman.
The route is also being promoted as a cultural bridge, deepening ties between communities on both sides of the Arabian Sea, Arab News reports.
Boost to Tourism and Lower Travel Costs
Officials say the ferry service will promote regional tourism by offering a scenic and cost-effective travel option compared to air routes.
The link is expected to draw visitors, business travelers and religious pilgrims, contributing to Pakistan’s broader strategy of strengthening tourism and hospitality sectors.
Authorities believe it will also lower travel expenses for low- and middle-income families frequently commuting between Pakistan and Oman.
The maritime affairs minister emphasized that new sea routes will help transform Gwadar into a major hub of economic activity.
He said regional countries would gain easier access to Central Asian markets by utilizing Pakistan’s expanding network of maritime corridors.
The move aligns with Islamabad’s efforts to leverage its geostrategic location for trade, investment and tourism as the country slowly recovers from a macroeconomic crisis under a $7 billion IMF program.
Pakistan is also working to reduce container dwell time at its seaports by up to 70 percent to enhance trade competitiveness and ease congestion.
Beyond Oman, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are exploring the possibility of linking coastal destinations to support marine tourism across South Asia.
Officials say Pakistan’s expanding ferry network could become part of a wider regional maritime ecosystem connecting the Gulf, Iran, the Arabian Peninsula and South Asia.
