IMO’s SENSREC Project recently organized a series of events in Pakistan involving all key national stakeholders to review the new regulatory framework for its ship recycling industry, aligning it with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC).

With Pakistan’s recent ratification of the HKC, which became legally binding in June 2025, the country is now committed to a significant overhaul of its practices. The Government of Pakistan is rolling out a Rs12 billion federal project managed by the Balochistan Development Authority (BDA) to equip facilities based in Gadani with modern supporting infrastructure, including a hazardous waste treatment plant and a hospital, aiming to create a global model for responsible ship dismantling.

During a workshop held in Karachi from 26 to 27 August, participants included representatives from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Balochistan Development Authority and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, underscoring the collaborative effort between federal and provincial bodies. The event also discussed approaches for improving occupational health and safety standards, providing proper training, and ensuring workforce access to essential services like healthcare. Additionally, the workshop was informed about the latest efforts made by the industry. In this regard, the Pakistan Ship Breakers Association (PSBA) announced that approximately nine ship recycling facilities are expected to achieve compliance with the HKC in the months ahead – the first one projected to do so in a matter of weeks.

In another event held during the same week in Karachi, a multistakeholder Steering Committee was established under the SENSREC project with the objective of giving advice and reviewing reports produced under the SENSREC Project. The committee also approved a first workplan with a view to collecting all information related to initiatives undertaken in Pakistan towards the common objective of modernizing its ship recycling industry.

Next steps in Pakistan include the finalization of a training needs assessment report that will guide planning and deployment of a skills upgrade programme for the workforce in ship recycling yards in the next few months.