ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has formed a 12-member multi-agency committee to identify potential sites for the establishment of new deep-sea ports along Pakistan’s coastline, marking a major step toward long-term maritime expansion under the government’s “Hundred Years Vision 2047–2147.”
Announcing the decision on Thursday, the minister said the initiative would “prepare Pakistan for the next century of maritime growth,” following the unveiling of his vision during National Maritime Week in Karachi earlier this month. He added that the committee’s first meeting would be held next week, which he will personally chair, to begin efforts for developing Port 1, Port 2, and Port 3 at strategic coastal points.
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The committee, comprising representatives from the Port Qasim Authority, Karachi Port Trust, Gwadar Port Authority, SIFC, and the provincial governments of Sindh and Balochistan, will meet fortnightly and submit a detailed feasibility report within three months. The report will include hydrographic surveys, satellite imagery, environmental assessments, and investment recommendations.
Pakistan’s 1,024-kilometre coastline and 240,000 sq km Exclusive Economic Zone hold immense potential for industrial, energy, and trade expansion. With existing ports — Karachi, Qasim, and Gwadar — expected to reach full capacity between 2035 and 2045, the government anticipates congestion due to rising regional transit trade and cargo volumes.
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Chaudhry said the development of three to four new smart, green, and digitally managed ports will help meet future trade demands, integrate with CPEC and Blue Economy corridors, and position Pakistan as a key maritime hub in the Indian Ocean. “The next century belongs to the oceans,” the minister said. “Pakistan must plan today for the ports and industries of tomorrow.”