A Chinese engineering firm presented a conceptual master plan for the Keti Bunder Port to President Asif Zardari on Monday [1].
The project aims to expand Pakistan's trade capacity and reduce food-price inflation by addressing logistics bottlenecks. By establishing a new deep-sea port in Sindh province, the government seeks to diversify its maritime gateways and stimulate regional economic growth.
The master plan includes a preliminary engineering cost of $522 million [1]. As part of the initial development, the firm proposed a 500-metre multi-purpose terminal for Phase I [1]. This terminal would serve as the foundation for a larger maritime hub designed to handle increased cargo volumes.
President Zardari emphasized that the port cannot function in isolation. "We need an integrated development that includes road, power, water, and industrial infrastructure alongside the port," Zardari said [1].
Representatives from the Chinese firm said that the preliminary study supports the vision for the first phase of the terminal [1]. The plan outlines a transition from conceptual design to physical infrastructure, provided the integrated support systems are established.
Pakistani Minister of Ports and Shipping Miftah Ismail said Keti Bunder will become a strategic gateway for Pakistan’s trade. He said that the development will reduce pressure on existing ports and support broader economic goals [1].
The project represents a continued collaboration between Chinese engineering firms and the Pakistani government to enhance the country's logistics network. The focus remains on creating a hub that integrates sea transport with inland industrial zones to maximize efficiency [1].
“"We need an integrated development that includes road, power, water, and industrial infrastructure alongside the port."”
The development of Keti Bunder Port signifies an attempt to decentralize Pakistan's maritime trade, which currently relies heavily on a few major hubs. By integrating the port with industrial zones and power infrastructure, Pakistan is attempting to create an economic corridor that can lower the cost of imports and exports, potentially stabilizing domestic prices for essential goods.
