Islamabad, Pakistan – August 7, 2025 – In a significant move to strengthen bilateral ties, Pakistan and Iraq have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a new ferry service between Gwadar Port and Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port. The agreement, which was finalized during a meeting between Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and a delegation from the Iraqi Embassy, is aimed at boosting trade, religious tourism, and regional connectivity.
Minister Chaudhry hailed the MoU as a “new chapter” in bilateral relations, emphasizing its potential to leverage the two nations’ shared cultural and religious bonds for new business opportunities. The ferry service is expected to be a major benefit for the hundreds of thousands of Pakistani pilgrims who travel to Iraq’s holy cities of Najaf and Karbala each year, offering a viable alternative to land routes that have become increasingly difficult to use.
Beyond passenger travel, the agreement seeks to significantly expand bilateral trade. Minister Chaudhry proposed increasing Pakistani exports of medicines, meat, and rice to Iraq, while simultaneously boosting Pakistan’s import of Iraqi oil. He also highlighted Pakistan’s capacity to supply Iraq with Potassium Sulphate from a manufacturing facility in the Gwadar Free Zone, further diversifying trade.
The Iraqi delegation, led by Deputy Head of Mission Abdulqadir Sulyman Alhimiri, expressed strong support for the proposals, describing the maritime sector as a “key enabler” for future collaboration. The two sides also discussed Pakistan’s planned participation in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) elections, with Iraq offering its assurance of backing.
This agreement aligns with Pakistan’s broader “blue economy” strategy to boost port activity and establish a regional maritime network, with similar ferry routes being explored with Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
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