Pakistan has revived its maritime shipbuilding capabilities with a groundbreaking $24.75 million project aimed at constructing the country’s first commercial vessel in over four decades. This initiative, facilitated by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), brings together the Pakistan Navy, Karachi Shipyard, and Pakistan National Shipping Corporation in a strategic partnership.
After months of negotiations and coordination, the project will focus on building a 1,100 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) container vessel, marking a significant milestone not achieved since the 1970s. The vessel will have the capacity to carry 1,100 twenty-foot containers, showcasing advanced maritime engineering and local manufacturing expertise.
Karachi Shipyard, once a key player in shipbuilding during the 1970s, is central to this revival, offering a promising future for the nation’s maritime sector. The initiative aims to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on foreign currency for vessel procurement, while strengthening the national maritime industry and contributing to the broader goals of enhancing economic self-sufficiency and developing the “Blue Economy.”
The project is expected to foster technological growth, bolster economic resilience, and increase Pakistan’s competitiveness in the global maritime market. Economic analysts predict that this move could serve as a model for future investments in maritime infrastructure, potentially attracting both domestic and international interest in Pakistan’s shipbuilding sector.
