GWADAR: Pakistan has reopened the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing with Iran, allowing commercial vehicles carrying import and export goods to resume cross-border movement after a suspension that left freight trucks stranded on both sides.
Border authorities permitted commercial consignments accompanied by consignment notes dated October 16 or earlier to pass through the crossing, also known as Gate 250, in Gwadar.
Mir Naveed Jan Kalmati, president of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, confirmed that trade activities resumed on Saturday morning.
He said the reopening had restored the movement of trucks and other vehicles transporting goods between Pakistan and Iran.
Kalmati welcomed the decision, saying it would provide immediate relief to traders, transporters and businesses affected by the border closure.
He added that the resumption of trade could help restore supply chains, ease the nationwide shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and reduce pressure on energy and food prices.
The border was reopened after local authorities reviewed the security situation and deployed additional security personnel to protect commercial convoys.
The move followed an attack earlier in the week on freight vehicles parked near the closed Gabd-Rimdan crossing. On Thursday, unidentified gunmen reportedly set dozens of trucks on fire and damaged several others.
The affected vehicles had remained stranded since October 17, when Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce suspended trade at both the Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan border crossings.
The suspension followed a memorandum issued by the ministry withdrawing a trade order dated October 3 with immediate effect. The memorandum did not specify a reason for the decision.
The reopening is expected to facilitate the movement of pending commercial consignments and provide relief to businesses disrupted by the suspension, although the extent of its impact on domestic supplies and prices remains to be seen.
