Key Points
- China Harbour Engineering Company presented a Phase-1 master plan worth 522.34 million USD, including a 500-meter multi-purpose jetty, for Keti Bunder Port.
- The project is still in the conceptual phase; there is no official financing commitment from China, technical coordination is ongoing.
- Keti Bunder was historically a significant trade port in the Indus Delta; it lost its importance due to sedimentation and the rise of Karachi.
- If successful, the development will become Sindh's third major trade port and provide sea access to landlocked neighboring countries.
By the Numbers
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) presented the Conceptual Master Plan for Keti Bunder Port to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on August 24, 2026. The plan envisions transforming the historic port, which opens the Indus Delta to the Mediterranean, into a modern deep-sea port and logistics hub. The project is still in the conceptual stage with no financing commitment.
Pakistan's 990 km coastline holds strategic importance; Sindh's 270 km stretch hosts major ports like Karachi and Port Qasim. The development of Keti Bunder could provide sea trade access to landlocked countries such as Afghanistan and the Central Asian Turkic Republics. Historically, the port was a trade center that rose and fell with the shifting channels of the Indus River.
The proposed development goes beyond the construction of a single jetty, envisioning a broad economic corridor encompassing fisheries, seafood processing, logistics, industry, and energy infrastructure. The main highway route Karachi-N5-Gharo-N110-Keti Bunder (approx. 90 km) connects to the national network. A railway connection is also planned.
React to this story
Ask about this story
Answers are AI-generated from this story only.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the status of the Keti Bunder Port project?
- The project is still in the conceptual and planning phase; China Harbour Engineering Company presented a master plan, but no financing and implementation decision has been made.
- What is the cost and scope of the project?
- Phase-1 envisions a 500-meter multi-purpose jetty and an engineering estimate of approximately 522.34 million USD; the expanded vision also includes fisheries, logistics, industry, and energy infrastructure.
- Why does this port have strategic importance?
- Due to its location in the Indus Delta, it could serve as a trade gateway to the Mediterranean for Pakistan's landlocked neighbors (Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan).
This is an AI-generated summary. The full story lives at the source.
Read the full story at the sourcesindhcourier.comHow we produce our content →