Govt eyes over 138,000 jobs from Port Qasim garment city project

August 17, 2026 (MLN): The government is to establish a 400-acre apparel zone at Port Qasim, eyeing over 138,000 jobs and annual exports of nearly $2.2bn in the first phase, according to project projections.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry chaired a meeting on the proposed garment city project, where he said the export-oriented manufacturing cluster would focus on high-value apparel production and draw private investment, according to a press release issued.

Per the project plan, the first phase would span 250 acres, with 35% earmarked for internal roads, utilities and green areas.

The scheme is envisaged as a public-private partnership.

The proposed commercial layout comprises 32 industrial plots of five acres each, though plot size could be trimmed to two or three acres to accommodate more investors and manufacturing units.

The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) would provide infrastructure and utilities, with each industrial unit granted access to up to 400,000 gallons of water daily, 2MW of on-grid electricity, and 23,100 pounds of industrial gas per day at 8 PSI sufficient to support requirements for 10 tonnes of steam.

For the project overall, planned utility capacity includes 13mn gallons of water a day, 64MW of on-grid electricity, and 750,000 pounds of industrial gas daily.

Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said private-sector participation would be central to the project.

Under the plan, Pakistani textile and denim manufacturer Artistic Milliners would set up a manufacturing unit with an investment exceeding $18mn, incorporating vertical integration and green technologies.

The project would also feature a one-window mechanism for exporters, including streamlined export processing, specialised customs desks and dedicated transport corridors.

The initiative also aims to lift the average export value of garments to around $8 per piece.

The minister said the project forms part of broader efforts to expand Pakistan's industrial base and export capacity, integrating port infrastructure, utilities, customs facilities and private investment into the proposed apparel zone.

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