Maritime, steel sectors to get major boost with proposed IMIC project

December 18, 2025 (MLN):  Pakistan is considering a proposed €1–2 billion Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex at Port Qasim that could significantly revive the country’s maritime and heavy industrial sectors.

The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Chaudhry and a five-member delegation from China’s Shandong Xinxu Group, led by chairman Hou Jianxin, said a press release issued.

The project, known as the Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex (IMIC), aims to modernize port-linked industrial activity through three key components: revival of the Iron Ore and Coal Berth (IOCB) jetty, establishment of shipbuilding and shipbreaking facilities, and development of a steel mill integrated with port operations.

The IOCB jetty, also known as the steel jetty, was originally designed to handle iron ore and coal imports for Pakistan Steel Mills.

It can accommodate vessels between 55,000 and 75,000 deadweight tons and is connected to the steel mill via a dedicated conveyor system stretching approximately 4.5 to 8 kilometers, linking directly to stockyards and blast furnaces.

During the meeting, the minister welcomed the Chinese group’s interest and asked the company to submit an unsolicited proposal detailing a comprehensive roadmap for the project.

He stressed that the submission should include clear core concepts, implementation plans, and feasibility studies covering technical, financial, and environmental aspects.

Once submitted, the proposal will be reviewed by a joint committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and representatives of Shandong Xinxu Group, led by Additional Secretary Umar Zafar Sheikh.

The minister emphasized that the project must align with Pakistan’s broader industrial and sustainability objectives, particularly job creation, value addition, and environmentally responsible development.

The IMIC concept was first unveiled in November 2025 at an event hosted by the Port Qasim Authority in Karachi, where the port was recognized as the world’s ninth most improved container port.

Branded as the “Steel-to-Green Sea” initiative, the project envisions linking ship recycling with domestic steel production to reduce imports and maximize the use of recyclable materials.

If approved, the IMIC would rank among the largest recent investments in Pakistan’s maritime and industrial sectors, further positioning Port Qasim as a regional hub for heavy industry and logistics.

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