Pakistan is moving ahead with plans to build a large Garments City at Port Qasim in Karachi. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced the project, which will cover 400 acres and focus on high-value clothing production for export.
The first phase will use 250 acres. About 35 percent of that land will go to roads, utilities, and green spaces. The remaining area will hold industrial plots, initially planned as 32 plots of five acres each. Plot sizes may be reduced to two or three acres so more companies can take part. The project will run as a public-private partnership. Port Qasim Authority will supply key infrastructure, including water, electricity, and gas for each unit.
Officials expect the first phase to create more than 138,000 jobs and generate around $2.2 billion in yearly exports. The goal is also to raise the average value of each exported garment to about $8. A one-window system will help exporters with faster customs clearance and dedicated transport links.
Private investment forms a core part of the plan. Pakistani textile and denim company Artistic Milliners has already committed more than $18 million for a modern factory that will use vertical integration and green technologies.
This Garments City sits within broader efforts to expand Pakistan’s industrial base near its ports. By placing production close to shipping facilities, the project aims to cut costs, speed up exports, and make Pakistani clothing more competitive worldwide. If developed as planned, it can support both employment and foreign-exchange earnings while encouraging cleaner manufacturing practices.