Pakistan and Iran will hold talks for launching ferry service between Karachi and Chahbahar on June 11. A three-member Pakistani delegation will leave for Tehran on Saturday, officials in the Ports and Shipping Ministry told Business Recorder on Thursday.
Earlier, both sides had put off talks twice to discuss the modalities of much-awaited ferry service. Joint Secretary S.M Hassan Zaidi, who will lead the Pakistani side, told Business Recorder that they would depart on Saturday to attend the joint-committee meeting on marine and ports co-operation.
Pakistan and Iran have expressed their keen interest to start a ferry service from Chahbahar to Karachi.
Zaidi said both sides were keen to improve maritime relations and added launch of ferry service would be an important part of the negotiations. The joint secretary further said that they would also hold discussions to cooperate with each other in rescue and search operations besides developing a strategy to control rising sea pollution.
Both sides believe that the ferry service would not only promote people-to-people contact between two countries but will also provide Pakistan a transit route to transport goods to Europe via Iran. It is worth mentioning that some circles believe there are meagre chances of trade between the two sides through sea.