Islamabad: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has unveiled plans for a 400-acre apparel zone at Port Qasim, which is expected to create more than 138,000 jobs in its first phase and generate annual exports of approximately $2.2 billion.

According to Press Information Department, the announcement came during a meeting chaired by the minister to discuss the proposed garment city project. The initiative, designed as an export-oriented manufacturing cluster, aims to focus on high-value apparel production while attracting private investment.

The project plan outlines that the first phase will cover 250 acres, with 35 percent dedicated to internal roads, utilities, and green areas, structured as a public-private partnership. The commercial framework proposes 32 industrial plots of five acres each, which may be adjusted to two or three acres to accommodate more investors and manufacturing units.

The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) is tasked with providing infrastructure and utilities. Each industrial unit will have access to up to 400,000 gallons of water per day, two megawatts of on-grid electricity, and 23,100 pounds of industrial gas daily at eight pounds per square inch (PSI), sufficient to meet the requirements for 10 tonnes of steam.

The overall project envisions a utility capacity of 13 million gallons of water, 64 megawatts of electricity, and 750,000 pounds of industrial gas per day. Private-sector involvement is emphasized, with Artistic Milliners, a local textile and denim company, committing to establish a manufacturing unit with an investment exceeding $18 million. This will include vertical integration and green technologies.

The project will also feature a one-window mechanism for exporters, offering streamlined export processing, specialized customs desks, and dedicated transport corridors. Employment projections for the first phase estimate 138,125 jobs, with annual exports valued at $2.2 billion, while aiming to elevate the average export value of garments to $8 per piece.

Junaid Chaudhry noted that the initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance Pakistan’s industrial base and export capacity, integrating port infrastructure, utilities, customs facilities, and private investment into the proposed apparel zone.