Pakistan is set to build a special 150-acre automotive processing zone at Port Qasim. The plan was announced by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry. The project is designed as the country’s first dedicated Import-Refurbishment-Export (AIRE) park for vehicles.
The idea is simple. Used vehicles will be brought into a controlled area at the port, repaired and upgraded to export standards, and then shipped out again. These vehicles will not enter Pakistan’s local market. This setup aims to create a complete service hub for importing, repairing, displaying and re-exporting cars.
In the first phase, the zone will have 264 units divided into five types: commercial spaces, refurbishment workshops, car display areas, machinery yards and spare-parts shops. The project will expand later according to demand. Its location inside the Port Qasim industrial area gives direct access to the port, which should lower transport and handling costs.
Officials estimate the AIRE Park could generate about $500 million in yearly exports and a net foreign exchange surplus of around $200 million. The move follows an earlier government decision that allowed temporary import of used vehicles and parts for repair and re-export under a pilot scheme.