Pakistan gets first HKC certified ship recycling yard

January 08, 2026 (MLN):Pakistan has operationalised its first ship recycling facility certified under the Hong Kong International Convention (HKC).

The development formally aligns the country’s shipbreaking industry with international standards on environmental protection, hazardous waste management and worker safety.

The certification has been granted to the Prime Green Recycling Yard, making it the first facility in Pakistan to meet the requirements of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.

The convention was adopted under the International Maritime Organization (IMO), according to the press release.

The move is being viewed as a structural shift for an industry that has long drawn international scrutiny over unsafe labour practices and environmental risks.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, speaking at the site, said the HKC certification brings Pakistan’s ship recycling framework in line with IMO benchmarks, particularly in the handling of hazardous materials, waste disposal systems and occupational health and safety protocols.

The convention sets mandatory standards covering the entire lifecycle of ship recycling, including inventory control of hazardous materials, emergency preparedness, worker training, and environmentally compliant dismantling processes.

Pakistan is among the world’s major ship recycling countries with the industry concentrated mainly in Gadani, Balochistan.

At its peak, Gadani was one of the largest shipbreaking hubs globally, supplying a substantial share of scrap steel to the domestic market.

The sector remains a key source of employment and raw material for Pakistan’s construction and manufacturing industries, while also reducing reliance on imported steel and conserving foreign exchange.

Despite its economic importance, the industry has faced persistent challenges due to outdated infrastructure, weak regulatory enforcement and safety lapses.

International shipowners, increasingly bound by environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, have shifted vessels toward HKC-compliant yards, limiting Pakistan’s access to higher-value recycling contracts.

The Prime Green certification is intended to address this gap and restore confidence among global shipping companies.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs said the government is pursuing a broader plan to modernise the Gadani Ship Recycling Zone, focusing on infrastructure upgrades, regulatory reforms, and stronger oversight mechanisms.

Worker safety has been identified as a central pillar of the reforms, with enhanced safety protocols, training requirements and monitoring systems expected to be rolled out across the sector.

Junaid Chaudhry said the government was working closely with industry stakeholders, including the Pakistan Ship Breakers Association, to formalise operations and improve compliance.

He noted that coordination between the public and private sectors would be critical to scaling HKC certification across additional yards.

The wider adoption of HKC standards could enable Pakistan to reclaim a larger share of the global ship recycling market, generate thousands of jobs, and improve the sector’s environmental and labour compliance profile.

The Prime Green Recycling Yard certification is expected to serve as a template for future upgrades across Gadani, with the longer-term goal of positioning Pakistan as a competitive and responsible ship recycling destination in the region.

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