One step closer to green and sustainable ship recycling in Pakistan

Pakistan is a step closer to becoming a Party to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (Hong Kong Convention). Following an IMO-run national seminar in Karachi, Pakistan (13-15 November) to support the country’s implementation of the Convention and related Guidelines, the Pakistan (Federal) Cabinet completed the processes needed to prepare the instrument of accession to the Hong Kong Convention. 

Speaking at the seminar’s closing ceremony, Pakistan's Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Maritime Affairs, Vice Admiral (Retd.) Iftikhar Ahmad Rao, reaffirmed his government’s efforts to secure Pakistan’s early accession to the Hong Kong Convention. 

During group discussions, presentations and exercises, participants at the seminar learned about legal, technical and administrative aspects of the treaty, and shared best practices on safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships. Their knowledge on ship recycling and waste management was shared and, during a site visit to ship recycling yards in Gadani, Pakistan, they witnessed some of Pakistan’s ship recycling activities.  

The event was hosted by Pakistan's Ministry of Maritime Affairs. Delegates included 97 participants from various ministries in Pakistan, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and International Labour Organization (ILO), as well as classification societies and ship recycling yards.   

Pakistan is one of the world's top five ship recycling countries. Its ratification and implementation of the Hong Kong Convention will contribute significantly towards greener and more sustainable ship recycling worldwide.  

The Hong Kong Convention aims to ensure that ships at the end of their operational lives are recycled safely and without posing unnecessary risks to human health and the environment by placing responsibilities and obligations on all parties concerned – shipowners, ship building yards, ship recycling facilities, flag States, port States, recycling States. The Convention will enter into force on 26 June 2025.  

The seminar was funded by the People's Republic of China through the IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP). It forms part of the Organization's work supporting the world's major ship recycling countries.