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Fars News (19 April 2018)

Akhoundi said that the issue has been discussed during a recent visit of high-ranking Iranian delegation to Pakistan.

"Iran and Pakistan are two neighboring states which enjoy strong brotherly ties, but despite the fact that large number of Pakistanis travel to Iran for religious and commercial purposes, there is no ferry service available between the two countries and the people have to use road and air links for the travel which is quite expensive," the Iranian minister added.

Karachi-Chabahar ferry service is the top priority of the Pakistani government because it is economically more viable. More than 200,000 Pakistani pilgrims visited Iran last year and the ferry service would provide them better and fast traveling facility.

The national flag carrier, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), is busy in finalizing the project and its arrangements, including acquisition of ferries.

The ferry service would prove to be a major step to enhance people-to-people contact and generate economic activities in the region. Iran and Pakistan share same culture, religion, values and they have so many other things in common which no other two countries of the world have.

Every year millions of Pakistanis travel to Iran for religious and commercial purposes through other routes but with the start of the ferry service they can travel to the neighboring state on affordable rates.

The ferry service will also promote tourism as Iran is a one of the major tourist detestations with lots of tourist attraction from ancient cities and beach resorts, to its modern capital and skiing destinations.

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