Pakistan is considering a landmark proposal from a Chinese conglomerate for a “Sea-to-Steel” initiative at Port Qasim, a project aimed at achieving national self-sufficiency in steel production and significantly reducing the country’s reliance on costly imports.
The potential development was the focus of a high-level review meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Friday, attended by representatives from China’s Shandong Xinxu Group and senior ministry officials.
Dubbed the Sea-to-Steel Green Maritime Industrial Corridor, the venture is designed to create a direct link between ship recycling operations and domestic steel manufacturing, utilising recyclable scrap to fuel production.
The project is a central part of the wider Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex (IMIC), which plans to modernise industrial operations through extensive upgrades to port infrastructure, including shipbuilding and recycling facilities. A key component involves the revival of the Iron Ore and Coal Berth (IOCB) jetty to handle ship recycling, with the resulting scrap used to revive an integrated steel mill.
The Chinese group has shown keen interest and is set to submit a comprehensive unsolicited feasibility study, which will detail financial impact assessments, structural and hydrographic analyses, and quantitative risk evaluations.
‘Once submitted, the proposal will undergo thorough review before any decision,’ Junaid Chaudhry stated, positioning the IMIC as a key driver for the nation”s blue economy.
‘If approved, IMIC would rank among Pakistan’s largest recent maritime and industrial investments, cementing Port Qasim as a regional hub for heavy industry and logistics,’ the minister added.
The initiative aligns with the country’s broader strategy to attract foreign investment to boost exports, create jobs, and ease foreign exchange pressures. Mr Chaudhry noted that such integrated projects could substantially curtail steel imports while spurring domestic manufacturing.
The minister stressed that final approval of the project hinges on its alignment with national priorities, specifically job creation, economic value addition, and adherence to sustainable development standards.