The first luxury cruise liner service between Pakistan and Dubai is set to begin operating in November, a Pakistani shipping official said on Thursday.
The service is a joint venture between a Greek cruise liner company and Gulf Dream Cruise Company, which is owned by a US citizen of Pakistani descent, said Miran Mohiuddin, director of the Pakistani state Ports and Shipping agency.
"We are expecting Gulf Dream Cruise Company to start operations with a UAE registered ship-Dream Princess-on a weekly basis," Mohiuddin told Reuters.
The initial fare for a round trip will be $549 dollars. The ship will take two days to travel from the Pakistani city of Karachi to Dubai.
It will dock in Dubai for a day and then return to Karachi. Mohiuddin said the service had a lot of potential, as the voyage was not long and Dubai was a popular tourist destination. Pakistan recently issued five licenses for private firms to operate luxury ferry services from Karachi.
In the past, the state-run Pakistan National Shipping Corporation has run large ships for passengers going to Mecca for the Haj pilgrimage. Pakistan is also planning ferry services to other Middle East destinations such as Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, Mohiuddin said.
Pakistani and Indian shipping authorities have also held talks on the possibility of reviving a ferry service between Karachi and the Indian city of Mumbai, he said.