Islamabad, November 13, 2025 – Pakistan has launched a major maritime initiative to identify new sites for developing deep-sea ports along its 1,024-kilometer coastline, marking a strategic move to strengthen the country’s maritime and trade infrastructure for the next century.
According to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Federal Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has formed a high-level, multi-agency committee to pinpoint suitable locations for the establishment of Port 1, Port 2, and Port 3, as part of his long-term “Hundred Years Vision 2047–2147.”
The 12-member committee will meet fortnightly and submit a detailed feasibility report within three months, including technical evaluations, hydrographic data, satellite mapping, and investment proposals. The minister is expected to personally attend the committee’s first session next week, signaling the government’s commitment to fast-tracking the project.
Chaudhry emphasized that Pakistan’s existing ports—Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar—could reach full operational capacity by 2045 due to surging trade, industrial expansion, and regional transit traffic. He warned that growing cargo movement from Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Gulf region could soon overwhelm current facilities.
To counter future congestion and meet rising trade demands, the new ports will integrate smart port technology, green energy systems, and advanced cargo handling infrastructure.
The minister noted that the initiative aligns with CPEC and Blue Economy corridors, aiming to make Pakistan a maritime powerhouse in the Indian Ocean region.
“The next century belongs to the oceans,” said Chaudhry. “Pakistan must prepare today for the trade routes and industries of tomorrow.”