Gadani Ship Breaking Yard to be modernised at a cost of Rs12 billion: Junaid Anwar

Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhary has said the government is going to modernise the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard at a cost of Rs12 billion to bring the facility on par with international safety and environmental standards.

KARACHI: Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhary has said the government is going to modernise the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard at a cost of Rs12 billion to bring the facility on par with international safety and environmental standards.

Junaid Chaudhary said during a committee meeting, which reviewed progress on the project, that construction is under way on key facilities, including a 30-bed hospital, labour colony, school and solar power infrastructure.

“Our objective is to transform Gadani’s traditional shipbreaking practices into a modern, safe and environmentally responsible ship-recycling industry that meets global standards,” Junaid Chaudhry said, noting the yard’s critical role in Pakistan’s steel-scrap market and supply chains.

The project covers both social and industrial infrastructure, including 32 kilometres of internal roads, a public park, hazardous and industrial waste-treatment systems, fire and rescue stations, and dedicated water-treatment facilities.

Project Director Saeed Ahmed Umrani briefed the committee that implementation has entered the active procurement and construction phase, backed by a federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation of Rs780 million for 2026-27.

The overhaul seeks to bring Gadani in line with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. Junaid Chaudhry ordered the project authorities to maintain implementation momentum and ensure that all new infrastructure meets strict operational benchmarks.