Key points:

  • China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has unveiled a USD 522.34 million first‑phase plan for a deep‑water port at Keti Bunder, on the outskirts of Karachi.
  • The conceptual master plan was briefed to President Asif Ali Zardari on 24 August 2026 and includes multiple berths, bulk‑storage yards and a logistics hub.
  • The venture is positioned as a complement to the China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor, aiming to relieve chronic bottlenecks at the existing Karachi ports.
  • If the scheme receives green light, it could create thousands of construction and operational jobs and boost ancillary sectors such as ship‑repair, warehousing and freight forwarding.

The proposal, presented by senior CHEC officials, outlines a modern maritime gateway that would sit at Keti Bunder, a shallow‑water site south of Karachi’s current harbor complex. By digging a deep channel and installing state‑of‑the‑art quay infrastructure, the project seeks to accommodate vessels of up to 180 000 DWT, a capability currently lacking in Pakistan’s port network. The plan envisions at least four high‑capacity berths, expansive container yards, and an integrated inland‑logistics corridor that would link directly to the existing CPEC road and rail arteries.

Karachi’s two main ports—Port Qasim and Karachi Port Trust—have been grappling with congestion that inflates turnaround times and raises handling costs for importers and exporters alike. Proponents argue that the new Keti Bunder facility would divert a share of bulk cargo, especially coal, oil and agricultural commodities, thereby freeing up capacity for container traffic at the older terminals. For the Sindh province, the project promises a surge in employment during the construction phase and, later, a permanent workforce to run the terminal, customs, and ancillary services.

Beyond the immediate logistics benefits, the deep‑water port is expected to reposition Karachi as a regional transshipment hub, capitalising on its strategic location at the mouth of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Analysts note that the infusion of Chinese engineering expertise and financing could also catalyse local industries such as shipbuilding, marine equipment manufacturing and warehousing, fostering a broader industrial ecosystem around the port precinct. The initiative therefore sits at the intersection of Pakistan’s maritime ambitions and the larger CPEC vision of creating a seamless trade corridor linking Asia to the Middle East and Africa.