Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has inaugurated first ship recycling facility certified under the Hong Kong International Convention (HKC), marking what he called a historic step toward safer and more environmentally responsible practices in a sector long criticised for hazardous working conditions.
Maritime minister made the announcement while addressing a ceremony at the Prime Green Recycling Yard, saying the certification demonstrated Pakistan’s alignment with international maritime and environmental standards.
“This is a historic achievement for Pakistan’s maritime sector,” Junaid Chaudhry said. “The success of the Prime Green Recycling Yard is a matter of national pride and a clear signal that Pakistan is meeting global benchmarks for environmentally friendly ship recycling.”
The Hong Kong Convention, adopted under the International Maritime Organization (IMO), sets standards for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships, covering issues ranging from hazardous materials to worker safety and waste management.
Junaid Chaudhry said Pakistan had now brought its ship recycling practices in line with IMO requirements, adding that reforms initiated by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs were already taking practical shape.
“Pakistan is emerging as a responsible country in the global ship recycling industry,” the minister said, describing the certification as “a golden chapter” in the country’s maritime history.
Shipbreaking is a significant industry in Pakistan, particularly in the coastal town of Gadani in Balochistan, once among the world’s largest ship recycling hubs.
The minister said the government was working to modernise the Gadani Ship Recycling Zone, with a focus on infrastructure upgrades, regulatory reforms and improved oversight. Worker safety, he stressed, would remain a top priority as the industry transitions to cleaner and safer methods.
“Protecting the lives and health of workers involved in ship recycling is our foremost concern,” Junaid Chaudhry said, noting that improved safety protocols would be enforced across the sector.
He also acknowledged the role of the Pakistan Ship Breakers Association in organising and formalising the industry, saying cooperation between the public and private sectors was essential for sustainable growth.
The minister said the development of a modern ship recycling industry could generate thousands of jobs and help conserve valuable foreign exchange by supplying locally sourced steel and materials to domestic industries.
“With a responsible and sustainable approach, ship recycling can become a major contributor to economic growth,” he said. “It will reduce dependence on imports and strengthen Pakistan’s industrial base.”
Junaid Chaudhry reiterated that maritime development was among the government’s top priorities, pledging continued investment and policy support to position Pakistan as a regional leader in safe and sustainable maritime activities.
“Our vision is to make Pakistan a sustainable and secure maritime leader in the region,” he said, adding that the HKC certification was only the first step in a broader reform agenda aimed at restoring confidence in the country’s maritime sector and enhancing its standing on the global stage.
