The government has rolled out an ambitious $13 billion Sea-to-Steel Green Maritime Industrial Corridor at Port Qasim to breathe new life into Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).
Chaired by Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, the plan promises to turn rusting ship hulks into raw material for eco-friendly steel production.
The project’s core component is ship recycling, in which old ships will be destroyed in accordance with strict environmental standards. Their steel will power a cutting-edge green manufacturing facility that employs low-carbon and renewable energy techniques.
Pakistan hopes to demonstrate the compatibility of heavy industry and sustainability by combining ocean garbage with state-of-the-art melting.
Officials estimate the corridor could slash steel imports by 20% over the next decade, saving roughly $13 billion in foreign exchange. That’s money that can be reinvested into infrastructure, education, or healthcare, rather than being shipped abroad for steel billets.
This import reduction would also strengthen PSM’s balance sheet, making it more competitive on the world stage.
Beyond steel, the scheme includes overhauling the Iron Ore and Coal Berth at Port Qasim, reviving local ship-repair yards, and setting up new logistic hubs. Together, these elements are expected to generate thousands of skilled and unskilled jobs along the Sindh coast. Local suppliers, welders, and marine engineers stand to benefit the most.
Describing the corridor as a “game-changer for Pakistan’s blue economy,” government spokespeople stressed that self-reliance and green growth aren’t mutually exclusive.
If all goes to plan, the Sea-to-Steel corridor will become a flagship model for sustainable industry across South Asia.
