The federal government has announced an ambitious plan to revive the dormant Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) through advanced technology and a new maritime-industrial partnership spearheaded by the Ministry of Industries and Production and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry revealed the initiative during a high-level meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan. Senior officials from both ministries and representatives of leading Chinese maritime firms also attended the session.
At the meeting, Minister Chaudhry presented a comprehensive proposal to establish Pakistan’s first “Sea to Steel Green Maritime Industrial Corridor” at Port Qasim — a project designed to integrate ship recycling, steel production, and sustainable industrial practices into a unified ecosystem.
According to a World Bank report, Pakistan imports approximately $6 billion worth of steel annually, with demand expected to rise by 6 percent annually through 2035. Chaudhry said the new corridor could reduce steel imports by up to 20 percent, saving the country more than $13 billion over the next decade.
A key component of the project is the revival of the dormant Iron Ore and Coal Berth (IOCB) at Port Qasim, inactive since 2015. The proposal envisions transforming it into a modern ship recycling and repair complex, including a large floating dock capable of servicing Aframax-class vessels.
The minister explained that steel recovered from dismantled ships would either be supplied to Pakistan Steel Mills or reprocessed at a nearby facility into high-grade industrial steel, reducing reliance on imported raw materials and conserving foreign exchange.
He further noted that the dock could also serve the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), which currently depends on foreign shipyards for maintenance — a move that would cut costs and strengthen local ship repair capabilities.
Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar Khan praised the proposal and emphasized inter-ministerial collaboration, stating, “We must work together for Pakistan’s economic growth and the welfare of our people.”
Commodore (R) Muhammad Jawad Akhtar, Technical Advisor Maritime Affairs, called the plan a “practical realization of the government’s Blue Economy vision,” describing it as “an integrated model of sustainable ship recycling, green steel manufacturing, and maritime industrialization.”
He added that the Sea to Steel Green Corridor would attract foreign investment, generate employment, and promote technology transfer, positioning Pakistan as a regional maritime hub.
Minister Chaudhry concluded that the initiative represents a strategic alignment of maritime trade, industrial revival, and environmental sustainability, aimed at reactivating idle assets and creating thousands of skilled and semi-skilled jobs.
“This is about building a self-sustaining maritime-industrial ecosystem that strengthens the national economy,” he said.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to finalize the project’s financial and technical frameworks in consultation with national agencies and international partners, with a formal presentation to stakeholders expected in the coming weeks.
