6 days ago
Iraq to gain Gulf access via new ferry route with Pakistan
Baghdad ( – Iraq and Pakistan have agreed to launch a ferry service connecting Iraq's Umm Qasr port with Pakistan's Gwadar port, enhancing Iraq's maritime access through the Arabian Gulf.
Located in southern Iraq near the Kuwait border, Umm Qasr is the Iraq's largest commercial port and a critical gateway for trade.
The new ferry route, which will pass through Gulf waters, is expected to strengthen Iraq's logistics network, reduce transport costs, and support both trade and religious tourism.
Umm Qasr port will also strengthen Iraq's connectivity to South Asia and the wider Gulf region.
The agreement was finalized during a meeting in Islamabad on August 6, 2025, between Iraq's Deputy Head of Mission Abdulqadir Sulyman Alhimiri and Pakistan's Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry.
The ferry will be operated by Sea Keepers, the first international company licensed by Pakistan for such services.
The route could facilitate Iraqi oil exports and increase imports of key Pakistani goods, including medicines, meat, and rice. The link may also benefit thousands of Pakistani pilgrims who travel to Iraq annually.
