Two merchant ships belonging to Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) were permitted to traverse the Strait of Hormuz and proceed to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates on Monday, following an initial denial of passage.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the vessels, Shalimar and Khairpur, were the first Pakistani ships to enter the Persian Gulf since the escalation of conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
On Sunday, Iranian authorities had reportedly stopped the two ships and instructed them to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz. However, shortly thereafter, permission was granted for them to cross the strategic waterway into the Persian Gulf, according to a PNSC official.
The captains of the two vessels, identified as Asif and Shaheen, are now en route to Kuwait and Das Island, respectively. From these locations, they are expected to load and transport significant quantities of diesel and crude oil back to Pakistan.
This development comes after MV Selen became the first Pakistani vessel to reach Karachi Port on Friday, following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in the aftermath of a ceasefire between Iran and the United States. The passage through the Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global oil trade and maritime traffic in the region.
The Chenab Times News Desk