Pakistan is planning to establish a new Energy City and a multipurpose terminal at Port Qasim as part of broader efforts to strengthen maritime infrastructure and promote the country’s blue economy.

The plan was announced by Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry during a meeting with a delegation of port terminal operators in Karachi, according to a statement issued by the minister’s office.

Under the proposal, the Energy City will include bonded storage facilities for various energy products. Officials said multiple locations are currently under consideration for the project.

The minister also encouraged terminal operators to form consortiums and invest in both the Energy City initiative and the planned multipurpose terminal at Port Qasim.

The development comes as Pakistan’s maritime sector recorded a profit of Rs. 100 billion in 2025 following reforms aimed at improving port efficiency, reducing congestion, and supporting the blue economy.

Port activity has also picked up in recent months as some cargo traffic shifted away from Gulf transshipment hubs due to disruptions linked to the US-Iran conflict and broader regional security tensions.

Officials say the government is accelerating efforts to modernize port operations, expand cargo handling capacity, and position Pakistan as a regional logistics and maritime trade hub.

During the meeting, Chaudhry said authorities had recently cleared decades-old containers and pallets from Karachi Port Trust premises, helping reduce congestion and improve operational efficiency.

Terminal operators, meanwhile, urged the government to lower taxes, simplify the taxation regime, and grant port services industrial status similar to that enjoyed by the telecommunications sector.

The minister assured investors and terminal operators that the government would address business concerns and take steps to facilitate investment and trade-related activities at Pakistani ports.