Pakistan plans to establish a 400-acre Garments City at Port Qasim in Karachi as part of a broader push to expand textile exports, attract private investment, and create jobs, with textile manufacturer Artistic Milliners set to invest more than $18 million in a new manufacturing facility.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced the plan after chairing a meeting on the proposed export-oriented industrial cluster, with the first phase projected to create more than 138,000 jobs and generate annual exports of around $2.2 billion.
A Public-Private Partnership Focused on High-Value Apparel
The project is being developed as a public-private partnership centered on high-value apparel manufacturing, with the Port Qasim Authority responsible for providing infrastructure and utilities. Chaudhry said the initiative is designed to position Pakistan more competitively in global textile export markets while drawing in fresh private investment.
First Phase: 250 Acres, 32 Industrial Plots
The project’s first phase will span 250 acres, with 35 percent of that area reserved for internal roads, utilities, and green spaces. The current commercial plan includes 32 industrial plots of five acres each, though officials say plot sizes could be reduced to between two and three acres to accommodate a larger number of investors and manufacturing units.
Artistic Milliners to Anchor Early Investment
Pakistani textile and denim manufacturer Artistic Milliners plans to establish a manufacturing unit at the site incorporating vertical integration and green technologies. The company’s investment is intended to help attract further private sector interest and strengthen the apparel manufacturing base building up around the port.
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Utility Capacity Built for Industrial Scale
The Port Qasim Authority will supply the infrastructure and utilities needed to support operations. Each individual industrial unit is expected to have access to up to 400,000 gallons of water per day, two megawatts of on-grid electricity, and 23,100 pounds of industrial gas per day at 8 pounds per square inch of pressure — enough to support steam requirements of up to 10 tonnes.
Across the full project, planned utility capacity includes 13 million gallons of water per day, 64 megawatts of electricity, and 750,000 pounds of industrial gas per day, reflecting the scale officials are planning for as the zone develops.
Streamlined Exports and Job Creation Targets
The proposed Garments City will also include a one-window system for exporters, featuring streamlined export processing, dedicated customs desks, and specialized transport corridors intended to cut down on logistical delays. The first phase alone is projected to create 138,125 jobs and generate $2.2 billion in annual exports, with the government also aiming to raise the average export value of garments to roughly $8 per piece.
