Pakistan opens six transit routes for Iran-bound cargo amid shipping disruption

Pakistan has designated six overland routes for the transit of goods to Iran, as container backlogs build up at Pakistani ports amid ongoing disruptions linked to regional tensions and restricted maritime access through key shipping lanes.

The Ministry of Commerce issued a statutory regulatory order titled the Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026, outlining the new framework for cargo movement destined for Iran, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The measure allows goods originating in third countries to pass through Pakistan under a regulated transit system backed by financial guarantees.

Under the order, shipments will be subject to customs controls and require an encashable bank guarantee equal to applicable import duties and levies in Pakistan. Authorities said the system is designed to ensure compliance with customs regulations while facilitating transit trade.

Six corridors have been approved for movement, connecting Pakistan’s southern ports of Karachi and Port Qasim with border crossings in Balochistan, including Taftan and Gabd, via routes passing through key regional hubs such as Khuzdar, Quetta, Turbat, and Gwadar.

The decision comes as more than 3,000 containers reportedly remain stranded at Karachi port, with logistical bottlenecks affecting cargo destined for Iran. The delays have been linked in part to disruptions in regional maritime routes, including instability affecting access through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping corridor.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital passage for global oil and gas flows, and any disruption there has wide-ranging implications for international trade. Authorities in Islamabad have not confirmed direct operational constraints at the strait but say the new transit arrangements are intended to keep trade flows moving through overland alternatives.

The Commerce Ministry said the framework is being implemented under a 2008 bilateral transport agreement between Pakistan and Iran and in line with national customs legislation.

The order, which took effect on April 25, defines procedures for cross-stuffing, customs security, and the role of shippers and carriers in managing transit cargo. It also formalises Pakistan’s role as a transit corridor for goods moving between third countries and Iran.

By Aghakazim Guliyev