DHAKA, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- A direct cargo vessel from Pakistan's Karachi has reached Bangladesh's premier Chattogram seaport, marking the first-ever direct maritime link between the two countries.
The direct route promises to significantly streamline supply chains and reduce transit time, said the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka in a statement on Wednesday.
Carrying a diverse array of goods with an estimated 2,300 TEUs of capacity, the vessel's voyage highlights a growing demand for direct trade between the two countries.
Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof termed the direct shipping route a major step forward in enhancing bilateral trade and business ties besides boosting a more integrated trade network across the region. ■