Pakistan has taken a significant step toward expanding its maritime infrastructure by forming a multi-agency committee tasked with identifying potential sites for new deep-sea ports along the country’s coastline. This initiative is part of the “Hundred Years Vision 2047–2147,” a long-term strategy designed to transform Pakistan’s maritime sector and enhance its role in regional trade and industrial growth.
The committee, which comprises 12 members, includes representatives from the Port Qasim Authority, Karachi Port Trust, Gwadar Port Authority, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Special Investment Facilitation Council, the Surveyor General of Pakistan, the Hydrographer of Pakistan, and provincial governments of Sindh and Balochistan. Its first meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, is scheduled for next week and will initiate the evaluation of three proposed ports — Port 1, Port 2, and Port 3 — at strategic coastal locations.
The body is mandated to meet every two weeks and deliver a comprehensive feasibility report within three months. It will rely on hydrographic surveys, satellite imagery, and technical studies to determine suitable sites for new ports, port cities, shipyards, and energy hubs. The committee’s assessment will also include environmental impact evaluations, logistics connectivity, industrial linkages, and investment frameworks to propose a phased roadmap for maritime infrastructure development.
Pakistan’s coastline stretches over 1,024 kilometers, from Sir Creek in Sindh to Jiwani in Balochistan, encompassing an Exclusive Economic Zone of approximately 240,000 square kilometers and a continental shelf of nearly 50,000 square kilometers. With the country’s GDP expected to approach $1 trillion between 2030 and 2035, maritime trade and related industries are projected to experience substantial growth in the coming decades.
Currently, Port Qasim operates at about 65 percent capacity, Karachi Port Trust at 52 percent, and Gwadar Port between 5 and 10 percent. Analysts anticipate that all three ports could reach full capacity between 2035 and 2045 due to rising industrial output, increasing regional trade, and growing shipping volumes. The minister highlighted that growing cargo traffic from Afghanistan, Central Asian nations, and transshipment from the Gulf and East Africa could exacerbate congestion at existing ports if new facilities are not developed.
Rapid coastal urbanization, private housing projects, and tourism initiatives are further constraining the availability of land for future maritime infrastructure. To meet these challenges, the government envisions establishing three to four new deep-sea ports equipped with modern cargo handling systems, renewable energy integration, and digital port management technologies.
This ambitious strategy aligns with Pakistan’s broader industrial expansion, regional connectivity objectives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and development of Blue Economy corridors. By investing in state-of-the-art maritime infrastructure, the country aims to position itself as a key maritime hub in the Indian Ocean region.
“The next century belongs to the oceans,” Minister Chaudhry said. “Pakistan must plan today for the ports, trade routes, and maritime industries of tomorrow.” The initiative not only addresses long-term trade and shipping needs but also opens pathways for investment, employment, and technological innovation in the maritime sector.
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