Pakistan has reached a significant turning point in its maritime and industrial development with the inauguration of the Prime Green Recyclers Yard as the country’s first ship recycling facility to receive certification under the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC).

The certification was formally announced on 7 January 2026 at a ceremony held at the Prime Green Recyclers Yard in Gadani, marking Pakistan’s entry into a small group of countries whose shipbreaking facilities have begun to meet globally recognized environmental, safety and labour standards.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, who addressed the inauguration, described the achievement as a moment of national importance. He emphasized that the certification reflects Pakistan’s determination to modernize its maritime sector while aligning with international regulations governing worker safety and environmental protection.

Prime Green Recyclers completed its compliance process in late 2025, following extensive upgrades to waste management systems, hazardous-material handling procedures, and worker safety protocols. The yard’s certification helps position Pakistan as an early adopter of HKC-compliant ship recycling practices.

The milestone follows Pakistan’s ratification of the Hong Kong Convention in 2023 and with Prime Green Recyclers Yard now operational under HKC standards, the country signals a broader shift toward sustainable maritime practices. Mr. Chaudhry said reforms initiated by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs were already taking shape, bringing Pakistan’s ship recycling practices in line with IMO requirements.