Iranian cargo trucks cross into the Pakistan-Iran border at Taftan, Balochistan province, on June 18, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. (AFP/ file)
- Pakistan designates six routes for the transit of goods to Iran as part of the arrangement
- It follows Pakistan’s operationalization of a corridor to provide access to Iran, Central Asia
Islamabad has cleared the way for Iran to import goods from third countries through Pakistani territory by opening new transit routes, the Pakistani commerce ministry said on Sunday.
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to enhance regional trade as Islamabad seeks to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
As part of the arrangement, Islamabad has designated Gwadar-Gabd; Karachi/Port Qasim-Layari-Ormara-Pasni-Gabd; Karachi/Port Qasim-Khuzdar-Dalbandin-Taftan; Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab-Panjgur-Nagg-Besima-Khuzdar-Quetta/Lakpass-Dalbandin Nokundi-Taftan; Gwadar-Liari-Khuzdar-Quetta/Lakpass-Dalbandin-Nokundi-Taftan; Karachi/Port Qasim-Gwadar-Gabd routes for the transit of goods to Iran.
“This Order shall apply to the transportation of transit goods in transport units, consigned from the territory of a third country and destined to a place in the territory of Iran through the territory of Pakistan,” the Pakistani commerce ministry said in a notification issued on Sunday.
“The transportation of cargo under this notification shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of the [Pakistan] Customs Act.”
The notification did not say whether Iran, which faces international sanctions, could exports goods to third countries via Pakistan.
It came weeks after Pakistan’s Directorate General of Transit Trade (DGTT) announced it had operationalized a new transit corridor via Iran by dispatching its first export shipment to Uzbekistan.
The shipment contained frozen beef and was moved in transport trucks from Karachi to Uzbekistan, opening a new route crossing the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing between Pakistan and Iran, according to a DGTT statement.
“The Iran corridor will open access to Iran and Central Asian states to the Pakistani ports of Karachi and Gwadar,” the statement read.
Pakistan has eyed Iran as an alternative trade corridor for exports to Central Asia as its traditional overland routes through Afghanistan have faced repeated disruptions due to heightened Islamabad-Kabul tensions.
“The increasing volume of international trade and regional connectivity will bring economic benefit for Pakistan and regional countries,” the DGTT said earlier this month.
Reference Link:- https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2641411/pakistan