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The long-anticipated Oman-Pakistan maritime ferry link is now close to becoming a reality. Senior officials from both nations confirmed progress during a recent high-level meeting in Islamabad.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and Oman’s Ambassador to Pakistan, H E Fahad bin Sulaiman al Kharusi, discussed the project in detail.
Talks focused on starting a direct ferry service, increasing trade, and sharing maritime expertise.
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H E Naveed Bokhari, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Oman, said the ferry proposal has reached an advanced stage. “Oman and Pakistan share centuries of maritime ties.
Establishing this route is a natural step,” he stated. He added that ministerial-level efforts this time make the project far more likely to succeed.
In 2024, Pakistan exported goods worth around US$224 million to Oman through ports. Chaudhry stressed the need to multiply this figure. He proposed joint infrastructure projects and better maritime logistics.
Gwadar Port, he noted, could serve as a central hub for the ferry service, with trade and transit revenues projected at US$10–15 billion annually.
