Five companies from the private sector have stepped forward with ideas for ferry routes that would run between Gwadar and various Gulf countries. This follows the recent push by the government to kick off a ferry service that connects Gwadar Port to GCC nations.
The idea is simple: make travel and shipping cheaper and more straightforward — especially for overseas Pakistanis and small traders. It’s a move that could open new doors for regional trade while also giving expats a more direct route home.
The Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, chaired a meeting on Friday to review the technical and financial details of the proposed ferry operations. A statement from the ministry said five private companies presented their plans in the meeting.
Chaudhry said that interest in the ferry project is picking up, with quite a few private companies now stepping in. A number of route options have already been suggested, and talks are still going on. He believes this new ferry link won’t just make passenger and cargo movement smoother — it will also help put Gwadar on the map globally as a key maritime hub.
At the same time, officials were told to go through all the proposals in detail and make sure every technical and legal requirement is sorted out before the service can actually launch.
While the meeting was underway, the minister also got on a call with Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, to talk about how the provincial government can get involved and support the plan.
CM Bugti promised full cooperation from the Balochistan government.
Later on, the Balochistan government shared an update on social media, saying the meeting also focused on Gwadar’s overall development — things like better public services and more job opportunities for the youth came up.
وفاقی وزیر برائے بحری امور جنید انوار چوہدری نے اپنے دورۂ گوادر کے دوران گوادر پورٹ پر جاری مختلف ترقیاتی منصوبوں کا جائزہ لیا۔
— Govt. of Balochistan (@dpr_gob) July 16, 2025
اس موقع پر انہوں نے کولڈ اسٹوریج، 1.2 ایم جی ڈی گنجائش کے ڈیسالینیشن پلانٹ، ساؤتھ فری زون میں قائم کھاد کی فیکٹری، مذبح خانے اور گوادر پورٹ کے سمندر کے… pic.twitter.com/ljB0WhD81o
Chief Minister Bugti mentioned that the idea of a ferry route from Gwadar to Oman is being seriously looked into. According to him, this could make life a lot easier for local residents and people heading for religious travel.
He called the ferry project an important step toward stronger regional ties.
The province also promised to fully support all Gwadar Port Authority projects and help Gwadar become a major part of Pakistan’s economy.
One of the important updates from the Balochistan government was about a new desalination plant. Once it’s up and running, the project is expected to supply 1.2 million gallons of clean drinking water every day to the people of Gwadar — a much-needed step toward fixing the city’s long-running water crisis.
Chief Minister Bugti also pointed out that the government is focused on helping the youth by giving them proper training and skills so they’re better prepared for future jobs.
Through the Pak-China Technical Vocational Centre, local youth will learn useful job skills. Around 30,000 young people are expected to be trained and prepared for overseas jobs under this plan.
This latest progress comes just days after Minister Chaudhry visited Gwadar on Wednesday to see how development work at the port is coming along.
Gwadar Port has been around for over ten years now, but many feel it hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations that were set when it was built. Despite all the investment and attention, it’s mostly been sitting quietly — not doing as much as people had hoped in terms of trade or economic activity.
However, the government is now taking steps to increase its commercial use. Earlier this year, the private sector was invited to send in ideas to boost cargo operations through the port.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also mentioned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered new short- and medium-term plans to make Gwadar Port fully operational within six months. He stressed the importance of comparing Gwadar’s costs with other nearby ports to attract more trade.
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