Pakistan-Iran border closure strands over 2,700 trucks, threatens trade

Pakistan’s border crossing with Iran has remained closed for four days since October 17, stranding more than 2,700 cargo trucks in Balochistan, after local authorities announced the closure over security concerns.

Traders warn the Pakistan-Iran border closure could cause billions of rupees in losses and potential supply shortages in southwestern Balochistan province.

Why has Pakistan closed its border with Iran?

Local authorities announced the closure on October 17, citing security concerns and the need for additional security arrangements. Shahid Rind, an adviser to the Balochistan Chief Minister on information and political affairs, told Nukta the temporary closure was intended to address security concerns, curb smuggling and improve border management.

The closure comes as Pakistan has played a mediating role between the United States and Iran, while businesses on both sides face mounting disruption.

How badly has the Pakistan-Iran border closure hit traders?

Agha Gul Khilji, a former president of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), told Nukta that authorities closed the crossing without prior notice, leaving traders facing substantial financial losses. Annual trade through the crossing is worth around Rs150 billion, with 400 to 500 trucks transporting goods daily, Khilji said.

More than 2,700 trucks remain stranded on both sides of the border, he added. About 2,000 carry imports from Iran and 700 transport exports from Balochistan.

The shutdown has left transporters and labourers demanding payment for their services, while perishable goods risk spoiling and metal products could rust. Returning consignments to their points of origin would incur additional costs running into millions of rupees, Khilji said.

Pakistan exports around 15 to 20 categories of goods to Iran, including rice and fruit, while Iran supplies up to 200 types of products to Pakistan, he said. Although Iranian traders are also suffering losses, Balochistan’s commercial activity is heavily dependent on cross-border trade, Khilji added.

Could the border closure cause an LPG shortage in Balochistan?

Haji Muhammad Ayub Mariani, vice patron of the QCCI, warned that a prolonged closure could trigger an immediate shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Pakistan requires about 7,000 tonnes a day, he said.

LPG prices in Balochistan had risen by Rs300 per kilogram within days of the closure and could exceed Rs1,000 if the disruption continued, Mariani said.

He also warned that restrictions on trade across Pakistan’s borders with India, Afghanistan and Iran had weakened local traders’ access to regional markets, allowing foreign competitors to gain ground. Unpredictable closures were inflicting billions of rupees in losses and making it difficult for Pakistani businesses to regain lost market share, he said.

When will the Pakistan-Iran border reopen?

Rind said talks between Pakistani and Iranian officials were progressing, and the crossing was expected to reopen soon, subject to a final decision by the federal government.

QCCI President Haji Ahmed Gul Kakar said the chamber had repeatedly urged authorities to reopen the crossing but had yet to receive a response. He expressed hope that commercial traffic would resume soon.