Pakistan to launch ‘Sea to Steel Green Maritime Industrial Corridor’

October 21, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan is set to establish its first-ever “Sea to Steel Green Maritime Industrial Corridor” at Port Qasim  a transformative project aimed at reviving the long-dormant Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and reducing the country’s heavy reliance on imported steel.

The initiative, proposed by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries and Production, seeks to integrate ship recycling, steel manufacturing, and sustainable industrial practices into a single ecosystem, APP reported.

Officials say the plan could reshape Pakistan’s industrial and maritime landscape while aligning with the government’s Blue Economy vision.

Pakistan currently imports around $6 billion worth of steel annually, with demand expected to grow by nearly 6% each year through 2035, according to the World Bank.

 The new corridor could cut steel imports by up to 20%, saving the economy an estimated $13bn over the next decade.

At the core of the plan is the revival of the Iron Ore and Coal Berth (IOCB) at Port Qasim, inactive since 2015. The berth will be transformed into a modern ship recycling and repair complex, equipped with a large floating dock capable of servicing Aframax-class vessels.

Steel recovered from dismantled ships will either feed into Pakistan Steel Mills or be reprocessed nearby into high-grade industrial steel, reducing dependence on imported raw materials and conserving foreign exchange.

The corridor will also support the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) by enabling local ship repair and maintenance, which are currently outsourced abroad.

This move is expected to cut operational costs and strengthen national maritime infrastructure.

Officials from both ministries, along with representatives of leading Chinese maritime companies, attended a high-level meeting where the proposal was discussed.

Government leaders hailed the initiative as a strategic alignment of maritime trade, industrial growth, and environmental sustainability.

They emphasized that it would reactivate idle assets, create thousands of skilled and semi-skilled jobs, and attract foreign investment and technology transfer, positioning Pakistan as a regional maritime hub.

The project’s financial and technical frameworks are now being finalized, with a formal presentation to key stakeholders expected in the coming weeks.

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