ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh for the first time have established a direct maritime route decreasing transit time from 25 days to 10 days.
A cargo vessel from Pakistan financial capital Karachi docked on Wednesday at Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port after 20 years.
Pakistan High Commissioner in Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof termed the move as a significant step, saying that this new route will streamline supply chains, decrease transit time and open new business opportunities for both nations.
Direct cargo vessel from Karachi has reached Chittagong, marking the first direct maritime link between 🇵🇰 &🇧🇩. The direct route promises to significantly streamline supply chains and reduce transit time besides enhancing bilateral trade and business ties between 🇵🇰 & 🇧🇩 pic.twitter.com/jMQAbbBKVH
— Syed Maroof, High Commissioner for 🇵🇰 to 🇧🇩 (@SyedMaroof12615) November 13, 2024
The envoy said that the first-ever direct route between the two nations highlights the increasing demand for direct trade.
The Ambassador said that the system will help to take forward the eco-social ties of people of the two sides.
The significant development takes place as on the sidelines of the United General Assembly Session, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh Interim Government Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus vowed to enhance bilateral ties at different levels.
Mohammad Yunus was appointed as Bangladesh Interim Government Chief Advisor after the ousting former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina fled to India after mass protests erupted against her autocratic government.
Chief Executive of Dhaka based Somaiya Fashion World Samia Somo said that it is a positive development as the businessmen of the two sides were facing a lot of trouble due to absence of direct sea route between the two nations.
The CEO said that many goods of Pakistan and Bangladesh are interlinked, adding Pakistani fashion products are very popular in Bangladesh.
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Samia Somo said that prices of products often increase due to long trade route between the two South Asian nations. A product took around 25 days to reach Bangladesh from Pakistan, but now it will reduce to 10 days, the CEO added.
Samia Somo said that the current cargo via direct route reached within ten days to Bangladesh, adding this will also reduce the price of the product.
Samia Somo hoped that the direct trade between the two sides will create new opportunities for the businessmen and people of the two sides.
Karachi based businessman Syed Naveed Shah said that the new corridor will benefit the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh. He also agreed with Samia Somo’s view as saying that the transit time will reduce to ten days between the two nations, according to media reports.
The first direct cargo vessel from Karachi #Pakistan has arrived in Chittagong #Bangladesh, marking a major step in bilateral trade. This new route will streamline supply chains, reduce transit time and open new business opportunities for both countries. pic.twitter.com/ga2l8NNDrU
— Pakistan High Commission Bangladesh (@PakinBangladesh) November 13, 2024
Pakistan former Ambassador in Bangladesh Rafiuz Zaman Siddiqui said that Islamabad and Bangladesh took good steps to restore trade ties, adding the two sides should take more efforts to enhance their relationships, BBC reported.
He suggested that cultural and youth contacts should be increased as it can play main role to bring people close to each other.
