GWADAR/QUETTA: Pakistan suspended trade with Iran on Saturday through the official Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan border crossings with immediate effect.
The Ministry of Commerce issued a memorandum withdrawing its earlier order (No. 9(3)2017-Iran), dated Oct 3, with immediate effect. The directive did not specify a reason for the closure.
The Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry has advised its members and businesses involved in trade with Iran to stop placing new import and export orders until further notice. Sources said Pakistani and Iranian authorities had made initial contact following the closure.
Hundreds of freight vehicles carrying LPG, rice, fresh fruit and other essential commodities have reportedly been stranded on both sides of the border.
The Gabd-Rimdan crossing had become a major route for meeting Pakistan’s energy needs, with over 4,000 tonnes of LPG reportedly imported daily through it. Exports of Pakistani products, particularly rice, had also surged in recent months, generating millions of dollars in foreign exchange.
Trade and energy sector sources warned that the closure could aggravate LPG shortages in Karachi and other parts of the country. The Taftan route was already facing disruptions amid unrest in Balochistan. The suspension of supplies through Gabd-Rimdan could push up LPG prices in the open market.
Local traders and the chamber have warned that the disruption could cause not only substantial losses to the national exchequer and jeopardise the livelihoods of many but also cause an energy crisis.
Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2026
