Pakistan Eyes $1 Trillion Economy via Blue Growth
Pakistan aims to transform its maritime sector into a driver of regional trade and economic growth, positioning the country as a hub of connectivity across Asia, the Gulf, and East Africa, Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Thursday.
Speaking at the Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference in Islamabad, Chaudhry announced that Pakistan’s “blue economy” strategy will link the Arabian Sea with key trade corridors extending to Central Asia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and East Africa. The initiative, he said, reflects the government’s commitment to turning Pakistan’s maritime potential into sustainable economic progress aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.Pakistan Plans $13bn ‘Sea to Steel’ Corridor to Revive PSM
Chaudhry highlighted that Karachi Port and Port Qasim currently operate at only 50% capacity, offering vast room for regional collaboration, while Gwadar Port—with its advanced transshipment and logistics facilities—stands ready to become a linchpin for intercontinental trade. Improved road and rail connectivity to Gwadar is expected to be completed by 2028, with the port projected to lead in cargo throughput by 2030.
The minister projected that Pakistan’s economy could expand to $1 trillion by 2035, with trade volumes exceeding $250 billion. To support this growth, he announced the launch of a digital port community system powered by artificial intelligence, along with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation’s (PNSC) plan to expand its fleet from 13 to 30 vessels by mid-2026. The expansion, he said, would raise the maritime sector’s contribution to GDP from 0.8% to 2% by 2035.
Key projects such as the revival of the Gaddani ship recycling yard and the creation of an Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex at Port Qasim were termed “game changers” that would boost industrial activity, shipbuilding, and logistics services. Pakistan’s 1,046-kilometer coastline and 290,000-square-kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone, Chaudhry added, offer immense opportunities for aquaculture, coastal tourism, and marine resource exploration.
The conference’s session on Regional Maritime Cooperation and the Blue Economy drew experts and policymakers from 26 countries, including transport ministers from Russia, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan. Representatives from the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) also attended.
Port master plans for Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar are being updated with international technical assistance to align with global standards. Gwadar, now supported by its new international airport, is set to serve as a regional gateway for energy, fiber-optic, and IT connectivity, directly linking maritime and air trade routes.
Concluding his remarks, Chaudhry said Pakistan’s maritime journey “marks a transition from potential to progress,” reaffirming the government’s vision of transforming the seas into “bridges of prosperity” through innovation, investment, and regional integration.
