Karachi, Mumbai ferry to run soon

ISLAMABAD—India and Pakistan would soon resume ferry service between Karachi and Mumbai and a protocol in this regard would be signed by the month end, Minister for Ports and Shipping, Babar Khan Ghauri said.
“Karachi-Mumbai ferry services will start very soon as licenses have already been issued to the ferry operator,” he said in an interview. He said that he would visit New Delhi later this month to sign a shipping protocol for the ferry service.
The ferry service had been proposed by India in 2004. Earlier, both the countries had this ferry service but it was discontinued in the aftermath of the 1965 war.
The move to sign the protocol follows Indian Government’s approval for a shipping protocol with Pakistan to step up maritime contacts between the two countries.
The revised protocol would allow lifting of cargo between the two countries by third country vessels as well as lifting of third country cargo by India and Pakistani flag vessels from each others ports.
The lifting of third country cargo by India and Pakistani flag vessels from each others’ ports is expected to enhance tonnage under both the flags and also result in competitive shipping rates.
Maritime trade between India and Pakistan is governed by the 1974 protocol. The protocol does not allow third country vessels to lift cargo bound for India or Pakistan. It prohibits flag carriers of both the countries to lift cargo for a third country from each others’ ports.
Meanwhile, the Hindu fanatic group, Shiv Sena has expressed its opposition to the resumption of the service and threatened to agitate against it.—Agencies