Pakistan moves ahead with ship recycling law to meet global environmental standards

In a key step toward aligning with international environmental protocols, Pakistan's Federal Cabinet has granted in-principle approval to the Environmentally Sound Management of Inventory of Hazardous Material on Ships Act, 2025.

The proposed law aims to ensure Pakistan’s compliance with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC), adopted in 2009.

Documents reviewed by Nukta confirm that the Federal Cabinet, in a meeting last Tuesday, endorsed a summary submitted by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to begin legislation for the environmentally responsible handling of hazardous materials found aboard decommissioned ships.

The Ministry informed the Cabinet that the Hong Kong Convention is designed to reduce health and environmental risks from ship recycling. The treaty sets standards for recycling facilities, mandates safe disposal of hazardous materials, and ensures protections for laborers involved in dismantling operations.

Pakistan formally acceded to the Convention in November 2023, and the treaty became effective on June 26, 2025.

Jurisdictional dispute with Balochistan resolved

During the legislative drafting process, the Government of Balochistan and the Balochistan Development Authority raised objections, arguing that ship recycling falls within the provincial legislative domain.

In response, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, in consultation with the Ministry of Law & Justice, revised the draft bill to minimize federal oversight and formally sought feedback from Balochistan.

To build consensus, a Joint Working Group (JWG) was constituted and held several rounds of consultation with provincial departments. A significant breakthrough came during a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) meeting on February 10, 2025, where federal and provincial stakeholders reached a consensus.

The revised draft clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the Federal and Provincial Governments, aligning the proposed law with the Convention’s framework.

Legal vetting and cabinet review

Following intergovernmental consensus, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs submitted the final draft to the Law & Justice Division, which legally vetted the bill on July 7, 2025. The summary was then sent to the Cabinet Committee for Legislative Cases (CCLC) for further scrutiny.

While acknowledging Balochistan’s concurrent legislative plans, the CCLC observed that shipping remains a federal subject under Entry No. 20 of the Federal Legislative List. However, the Committee noted that it could not issue a formal ruling on jurisdiction without a constitutional reference.

Despite this, the CCLC endorsed the draft bill for final approval by the Federal Cabinet.

A milestone in compliance

The legislation marks a major milestone in Pakistan’s efforts to meet international environmental and labor standards in ship recycling—particularly after its accession to the HKC. Once enacted, the law will establish a framework for safer, cleaner, and more regulated ship recycling practices across the country.