Pakistan, Bangladesh plan to launch passenger and cargo shipping services as ties warm up

KARACHI: Pakistan and Bangladesh have decided to launch passenger and cargo shipping services between the two countries, the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) said on Tuesday, amid a thaw in ties since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year.
The statement came after a meeting between Bangladesh High Commissioner Iqbal Hussain Khan and PNSC Chairman Sultan Ahmed Chawla, aimed at discussing avenues for enhanced maritime cooperation between the two nations.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.
In the years since, Bangladeshi leaders, particularly ex-PM Hasina, chose to maintain close ties with India. Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since Hasina’s ouster as a result of a student-led uprising in August, witnessing a marked improvement.
“A key outcome of the discussion was the decision to initiate passenger and cargo services between the two countries, facilitating smoother travel and boosting people-to-people connectivity in trade, industry and ship agency matters,” the PNSC said in a statement.
The development follows interactions between top officials of both countries on bilateral and multilateral forums.
The head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif twice since taking office on Aug. 8. Last month, Pakistani and Bangladeshi envoys held a meeting in the United Arab Emirates, wherein they proposed direct flights from Dhaka to Islamabad and Karachi.
In January, Pakistan and Bangladesh signed a landmark agreement to establish a joint business council, during the visit of a Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) delegation to Dhaka. The Trade Corporation of Pakistan has also signed a memorandum of understanding for rice export to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh High Commissioner Khan expressed optimism about the positive impact of the recent developments, noting that enhanced maritime connectivity will further strengthen bilateral trade and diplomatic relations between the two countries, according to the PNSC.
Chawla reaffirmed the PNSC’s commitment to supporting regional trade initiatives and emphasized the corporation’s readiness to facilitate seamless logistics between the two countries.
“The meeting concluded with both sides reiterating their dedication to exploring new opportunities for collaboration in the maritime sector, aiming for a prosperous future for Pakistan and Bangladesh,” the PNSC added.