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Karachi-Mumbai ferry via city being planned

The new sea route, when commissioned, will open up an affordable alternative for transportation of passengers and goods while giving a much-needed push to the promotion of tourism between the three countries.

The initiative, according to sources at the PNSC, is part of the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan to provide yet another way of easing out the transportation facilities for those who cannot afford air travel and promote tourism.

Gwader, which is being developed as a major new port on the southern shore of Pakistan to promote trade and commerce in Baluchistan by next year, would go a long way in boosting exports from the Central Asian Republics, and China, and providing an outlet to the land-locked region of Central Asia, being linked with Pakistan through a network of motorways.

According to sources, another ferry service will be started from Karachi to Jeddah for the convenience of Haj pilgrims and for those who visit the holy land for performing Umrah.

The fare on Karachi-Gwader-Dubai and Dubai-Karachi-Mumbai route, the sources said, would be fixed at low levels so as to attract good number of passengers who have had no earlier experience of travelling by sea. For them the biggest attraction would be the unlimited baggage, which could be transported without any restriction.

Efforts were being made to start work on this project within a year, a source said.

Some Dubai-based shippers in past had also shown their interest in introducing the ferry service to Karachi. They had asked for subsidies from the Government of Pakistan.

In this connection, PNSC is working for the acquisition of six vessels to help realise a project, which was once a dream only.

PNSC, a loss-sustaining company this year, saw a turn-around earning a net profit of Rs1.63 billion ($29 million).

Captain Tariq Khan, CEO Silver Sea Shipping, who had plans for a ferry service couple of years ago speaking to Khaleej Times said the route was not so economical for a private company to operate on.

The service can only be viable commercially if Pakistan gives some subsidy to the shippers, as Karachi port is 30 per cent more expensive comparing with Mumbai. Besides, the expatriates had shown little interest in ferrying since Pakistani air carriers were providing the travel facility so economically making prospects of ferry service dim.

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