KARACHI, Sindh: Pakistan plans to establish a 150-acre automotive processing zone at Port Qasim, with proponents estimating annual exports of USD 500 million from the proposed facility.
The project could generate an annual net foreign exchange surplus of about USD 200 million, according to estimates cited in the project concept.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced the plan during a meeting with Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Chairman Rear Admiral (retd) Syed Moazzam Ilyas and PQA board members.
The Port Qasim automotive zone will be developed in phases, with expansion tied to market demand. Its first phase is expected to include 264 operational units across five specialised segments.
These include 30 commercial units, 84 refurbishment workshops, 60 vehicle display units, 20 machinery yards and 70 auto spare-parts units.
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The facility will sit within the Port Qasim industrial corridor, giving businesses direct port access. The project aims to reduce inland logistics requirements for imported and exported vehicles.
The proposed development would introduce what project planners describe as Pakistan’s first dedicated Import-Refurbishment-Export (AIRE) framework for the automotive sector.
PQA Chairman Syed Moazzam Ilyas said the phased model would allow the facility to expand according to market demand. He added that the project could provide a model for similar automotive zones elsewhere in Pakistan.
