Ayesha Saba

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs is considering using hundreds of thousands of seized solar panels to energize the operation of the Gwadar Port. Talking to Wealth Pakistan on the condition of anonymity, a senior ministry official said energy security remains Gwadar’s foremost challenge. “For years, the port city relied heavily on imported electricity from Iran.

However, due to Tehran’s industrial revival and recurring shortages during the peak summer months, power supply to Gwadar has remained inconsistent, leaving the ministry with no option but to look for alternative ways to generate power to ensure round-the-clock port operations,” the official explained. These solar panels, parked at the Karachi Port, were seized by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) after the local importers failed to clear the import duties and abandoned them.

According to the official, a survey will be conducted soon to determine the quantity and quality of the seized solar panels. Following the suggestion of Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed in a recent meeting that these solar panels have the potential to generate 150 to 170 megawatts of electricity.

Out of the total production, 100MW power will be supplied to Gilgit-Baltistan, and the remaining 50–70MW directly to Gwadar, enabling the port city to establish its own solar-based macro grid. The official described this move as a practical step toward utilizing the unused assets for generation of renewable energy, positioning Gwadar as an emerging solar hub. He noted that while the federal government has connected Gwadar to the national grid, stability remains elusive.

A Rs7 billion stabilization project, planned jointly by the Planning Ministry and Power Division in 2022, has yet to materialize, he added. On the industrial front, Chinese investors are launching key projects to strengthen Gwadar’s export capacity. Plans are in progress to set up a modern fish processing plant, which will enable the export of processed seafood, including tuna, directly from Gwadar rather than auctioning the catch in Karachi.

This facility will also enhance the role of Gwadar airport by supporting the air freight of processed products. The official further remarked that plans were underway to link Gwadar Port with Pakistan’s major mining projects, including Reko Diq and Saindak mineral hubs, through dedicated railway lines. Approval for the project is in the final stages, with completion targeted by 2028. He believed this integration of port and mining supply chains would unlock massive trade and export potential.

Credit: INP-WealthPk