Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Wednesday announced plans to establish an automotive processing zone on 150 acres at Port Qasim, with the facility to be expanded in phases according to market demand.
The decision was taken at a meeting attended by Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Chairman, Rear Admiral (Retd) Syed Moazzam Ilyas and members of the PQA Board.
The minister said the auto zone would be expanded in phases after completion of the first phase, enabling the project to grow in line with market demand.
The proposed zone will comprise 264 operational units across five specialised segments, including 30 commercial units, 84 refurbishment workshops, 60 car display units, 20 machinery yards and 70 auto spare-parts units.
According to the project concept, the facility will be developed within the Port Qasim industrial corridor, providing direct access to the port and reducing inland logistics requirements for imported and exported vehicles.
The proposed facility is aimed at creating an integrated platform for vehicle import, refurbishment, display and export. The project envisages Pakistan’s first dedicated Import-Refurbishment-Export (AIRE) framework for the automotive sector.
Port Qasim’s strategic location has been identified as a key advantage for the project. The port is one of Pakistan’s major gateways for vehicle trade and handles a significant share of the country’s seaborne commerce.
The project proponents estimate that the AIRE Park could generate an annual net foreign exchange surplus of around $200 million, based on an estimated $500m exports.
The facility is also expected to support automotive businesses by bringing commercial activities, refurbishment facilities, machinery yards, vehicle displays and spare-parts suppliers into a single port-based ecosystem.
The proposed zone would be located along the Arabian Sea shipping corridor connecting South Asia with the Gulf and East Africa, potentially facilitating regional vehicle trade.
Chairman port Qasim Authority Rear Admiral (Retd) Syed Moazzam Ilyas said the phased approach would allow the project to expand according to market demand and could provide a model for establishing similar automotive zones elsewhere in the country.
