Port Qasim to host new 150-acre automotive processing zone

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has announced plans to establish a 150-acre automotive processing zone at Port Qasim in Karachi. The project aims to create Pakistan’s first dedicated Import-Refurbishment-Export (AIRE) framework for the automotive sector.

The facility will be developed within the Port Qasim industrial corridor to provide direct port access and reduce inland logistics costs for vehicle trade. The zone is planned to include 264 operational units divided into five segments: 30 commercial units, 84 refurbishment workshops, 60 car display units, 20 machinery yards, and 70 auto spare-parts units.

To manage growth, the project will be expanded in phases based on market demand. Proponents estimate the AIRE Park could generate an annual net foreign exchange surplus of approximately $200 million, supported by an estimated $500 million in exports. The location along the Arabian Sea shipping corridor is intended to facilitate regional vehicle trade connecting South Asia with the Gulf and East Africa.