ISLAMABAD: Shan­d­ong Xinxu Group, a Chin­ese conglomerate, has proposed a €2 billion Inte­g­rated Maritime Industrial Complex (IMIC) at Port Qasim.

In a meeting with Mar­i­time Affairs Minister Mu­­hammad Junaid Chau­d­h­­ry on Thursday, the company’s five-member delegation, headed by Chair­man Hou Jianxin, discussed the proposal.

The IMIC project would consist of three key components: the revival of the Iron Ore and Coal Berth (IOCB) Jetty, the establishment of shipbuilding and shipbreaking facilities, and the construction of a steel mill integrated with port operations.

The IOCB was designed to handle bulk cargo, including iron ore and coal, primarily for Pakistan Steel Mills. The jetty can accommodate vessels ranging between 55,000 and 75,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT) and is connected to the steel mill through a dedicated conveyor system spanning approximately 4.5 to 8 kilometres, linking directly to stockyards and blast furnaces.

The minister welcomed the Chinese proposal and urged the delegation to submit an unsolicited proposal with detailed plans and a comprehensive roadmap for the project. The minister emphasised that the roadmap should include feasibility studies covering technical, financial, and environmental aspects.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2025