SINGAPORE - APL today announced the launch of the India Pakistan-Mediterranean Express (IPM) Service – its first weekly service that directly connects India and Pakistan with the Mediterranean markets. “APL's new IPM service signifies another milestone in broadening our Indian Subcontinent (ISC) service offerings. APL customers in South Asia can expect to benefit from its direct shipping route and wide coverage of the Mediterranean ports. With its strategic port rotation that serves the major transhipment hubs of Malta, Damietta, Piraeus, Nhava Sheva and Mundra, shippers can tap on APL’s global network at these relay ports for further connectivity into vast key European, Asia and the U.S. East Coast markets,” said Eric Eng, APL Head of Asia-Europe Trade. Besides offering the fastest transit time from Mersin and Aliaga to the ISC markets, the IPM service also assures shippers an optimal handling of outbound cargo from India through a network of inland container depots located across the country before heading for the ports of Mundra and Nhava Sheva. The first sailing of the new IPM service will commence from the Port of Karachi, Pakistan, on 2 July 2017. The service will call the ports of Khor Fakkan, Karachi, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Djibouti, Jeddah, Damietta, Piraeus, Malta, Aliaga, Mersin and Port Said West.