‘Sea to Steel’ Green Corridor Plan to Revive Pakistan Steel Mills

PAKISTAN

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has unveiled an ambitious plan to revive the long-dormant Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) through advanced technology and a landmark maritime-industrial partnership with the Ministry of Industries and Production.

The minister presented the concept during a high-level meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, held at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. The meeting was also attended by senior officials from both ministries and representatives of leading Chinese maritime enterprises.

At the centre of the proposal is the establishment of Pakistan’s first “Sea to Steel Green Maritime Industrial Corridor” at Port Qasim, envisioned as a transformative model integrating ship recycling, green steel manufacturing, and sustainable industrial practices into a unified ecosystem.

“This initiative has the potential to reshape Pakistan’s industrial and maritime future by linking the steel and shipping sectors through environmentally responsible practices,” the minister said.

Pakistan currently imports around $6 billion worth of steel annually, with demand projected to grow by nearly 6% each year through 2035, according to a World Bank report. The proposed corridor could reduce steel imports by up to 20%, saving the economy over $13 billion over the next decade, the minister noted.

A key component of the plan is the revival of the Iron Ore and Coal Berth (IOCB) at Port Qasim — inactive since 2015 — to be transformed into a modern ship recycling and repair complex equipped with a floating dock capable of servicing Aframax-class vessels.

Chaudhry explained that steel recovered from dismantled ships would be supplied to PSM or reprocessed at a new steel facility near Port Qasim to produce high-grade industrial steel. This approach, he said, would reduce dependence on imported raw materials, conserve foreign exchange, and revitalize domestic steel and shipbuilding industries.

The minister also highlighted potential benefits for the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), which currently relies on foreign shipyards for maintenance. The development of local repair capacity, he said, would lower operational costs and strengthen Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure.

Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar Khan welcomed the proposal and called for enhanced inter-ministerial coordination.

“We must work together for Pakistan’s economic growth and the welfare of our people,” he remarked, expressing confidence in the project’s transformative potential.

Commodore (R) Muhammad Jawad Akhtar, Technical Advisor Maritime at the ministry, described the corridor as a practical manifestation of the government’s Blue Economy vision.

“The Sea to Steel Green Corridor represents an integrated model of sustainable ship recycling, green steel production, and maritime industrialization,” he said, adding that the project would attract investment, create jobs, and promote technology transfer.

Minister Chaudhry concluded that the initiative reflects a strategic alignment of maritime trade, industrial growth, and environmental sustainability. He said the plan would reactivate idle national assets, generate thousands of skilled jobs, and drive regional economic growth.

“This is about building a self-sustaining maritime-industrial ecosystem that strengthens the national economy,” he emphasized.

The meeting ended with an agreement to finalize the project’s financial and technical frameworks in collaboration with national agencies and international partners. A formal presentation to key stakeholders is expected in the coming weeks. – ER News Desk

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