The following release was published by SeaLead:
SeaLead, a fast-growing global shipping line, today announced the launch of its new Dubai, Karachi – East Africa (DUKE) service, a direct liner service connecting Pakistan with the Middle East and East Africa. This service expands SeaLead’s presence in Pakistan, linking it to the Middle East through Jebel Ali, a key transhipment hub, and further strengthens Pakistan’s connectivity to East Africa via the Middle East, thereby improving export opportunities.
The DUKE service offers a port rotation that includes stops at Karachi, Jebel Ali, Mombasa, and back to Karachi. The inaugural vessel is set to depart from Karachi on 24 December 2024.
The launch of the DUKE service is especially significant considering the strong trade relationship between Pakistan and the UAE. According to Arab News, the UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, with bilateral trade volume reaching $5.6 billion during the fiscal year 2023–24. Of this, Pakistani exports to the UAE amounted to $1.59 billion, while imports stood at $4 billion. With a target to increase exports to the UAE to $2 billion by the end of the next fiscal year, the DUKE service offers a reliable platform to support these growing trade volumes.
Similarly, the country is looking to strengthen its trade ties with Africa, a region with immense growth potential. According to The News International, Pakistan’s exports to the continent stand at just $2 billion, with trade activities in only 20 of Africa’s 54 countries. This is despite the positive projections of the World Bank that the GDP of Africa could reach $26 trillion by 2050.
The DUKE service positions SeaLead as an enabler of these trade objectives, offering efficient and reliable links between the said regions, and unlocking opportunities for businesses to access these dynamic markets.
The DUKE service further cements SeaLead’s intent to develop regional trade and present new opportunities for businesses within the Middle East, and East Africa.
Source: SeaLead