Pakistan to establish 150-acre auto processing zone at Port Qasim

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Wednesday that the government intends to build an automotive zone covering 150 acres within Port Qasim, Karachi. According to Business Recorder, the site will be built up gradually, with each stage tied to how much demand the market generates. The decision was reached at a meeting that included the Port Qasim Authority chairman and board members.

The planned zone will house 264 operating units spread over five specialist segments. They include 30 commercial units, 84 workshops for refurbishment, 60 showrooms for cars, 20 yards for machinery and 70 outlets selling auto spare parts. It is meant to be the country's first Import-Refurbishment-Export model built specifically for vehicles. Project backers estimate it could produce a yearly net forex surplus of roughly $200 million, using estimated exports of $500 million.

Port Qasim Authority chairman Rear Admiral (Retd) Syed Moazzam Ilyas said the phased model could serve as an example for similar zones elsewhere. The site lies on an Arabian Sea route that links the subcontinent to the Gulf and East Africa, a setting that could support regional vehicle trade. The announcement carries no company-specific detail, as the statement names no listed firm as a participant.