ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is planning to launch ferry services from its Karachiport to Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Oman with an aim to enhanceconnectivity and provide more services to the people.link>link>link>[image: Pakistan to Launch Ferry Service to Iran]link>
According to the South Asian country’s Federal Minister for shipping MirHasil Khan Bizenjo, the draft Ferry Service Policy would be present at thenext Cabinet meeting for approval.
“In the draft policy we have given a wide range of concessions, with a taxholiday up to 2040. There will also be no duty and taxes on ferry serviceas well as on purchase of a ship for introducing the service in thecountry,” he said, according to the Business Standard.
He said initially ferries will be launched from Karachi to Iran, Dubai andOman.
Bizenjo said the Ministry of Maritime Services had also suggested thatthere be no port charges for 4 to 5 years to attract prospective investorsto launch ferry and dining cruise services.
He said that during former president Pervaz Musharraf’s era a ferry servicewas launched but flopped badly because of no regulations and rules to run acompletely new trade in the country.
He said the draft policy covers issues such as immigration and narcotics tolimit loopholes for any abuse of the service.
Bizenjo said the ferry services would be run by the private and publicsectors with the government’s role reducing to issuing licenses by theDirector General Ports and Shipping.
He said the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation can also run its ferryservice.
“We hope to attract international investors for this service with ourrebates,” he added.