Pakistan is gearing up to establish its first-ever Sea to Steel Green Maritime Industrial Corridor at Port Qasim, a major step that aims to reshape the nation’s industrial and maritime landscape while reducing dependence on imported steel. This ambitious initiative is being developed through a strategic collaboration between Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Ministry of Industries and Production, aligning closely with the government’s Blue Economy vision.
The corridor is designed to integrate ship recycling, steel manufacturing, and sustainable industrial practices within a single ecosystem, making it a transformative development for the country’s economic and industrial base. A key objective of this initiative is to revive the long-dormant Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and reduce Pakistan’s heavy reliance on steel imports.
Pakistan currently imports approximately $6 billion worth of steel each year, a figure that is projected to increase at an annual rate of around 6 percent through 2035, according to estimates from World Bank. The proposed Sea to Steel Corridor could potentially cut these imports by up to 20 percent, saving the economy an estimated $13 billion over the next decade.
Central to the plan is the revival of the Iron Ore and Coal Berth (IOCB) at Port Qasim, which has remained inactive since 2015. The berth will be redeveloped into a modern ship recycling and repair facility equipped with a large floating dock capable of handling Aframax-class vessels. The steel recovered from dismantled ships will be directed to Pakistan Steel Mills or reprocessed locally into high-grade industrial steel. This process will not only reduce dependence on imported raw materials but also conserve valuable foreign exchange.
In addition to steel production, the corridor is expected to strengthen the capabilities of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) by providing local facilities for ship repair and maintenance, which are currently outsourced to foreign shipyards. This localization of maritime services will help reduce operational costs, build domestic capacity, and enhance Pakistan’s position as a regional maritime hub.
Senior officials from both ministries, along with representatives of leading Chinese maritime enterprises, recently attended a high-level meeting to review the proposal. The initiative was welcomed as a strategic alignment of maritime trade, industrial expansion, and environmental sustainability.
Government officials highlighted that the project would reactivate idle assets, generate thousands of skilled and semi-skilled jobs, and attract both foreign investment and advanced technologies. By integrating steel production with maritime services, the corridor aims to create a self-reliant and competitive industrial framework that can support long-term economic growth.
The technical and financial frameworks of the project are currently being finalized, with a formal presentation to key stakeholders expected in the coming weeks. Once operational, the Sea to Steel Green Maritime Industrial Corridor is expected to significantly contribute to reducing import dependency, enhancing industrial productivity, and promoting sustainable economic development.
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