ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has established a new customs station at Jeerak in Panjgur district, Balochistan, marking the fifth official crossing point for trade and transit with Iran. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) operationalized the facility through Customs Notification SRO 530 of 2026, aiming to ease congestion at the Taftan border and strengthen documentation of cross-border flows.
Officials said the Jeerak station will regulate passenger movement, manage personal baggage, and help channel informal trade into the formal economy while curbing smuggling. The move comes as Pakistan seeks to expand regional trade amid disruptions at the Afghan border.
In a parallel policy shift, Pakistan has temporarily abolished the requirement of Letters of Credit (LCs) and bank guarantees for the export of food and essential items to Iran. The exemption, effective from March 24 to June 21, covers rice, seafood, meat, potatoes, onions, maize, oranges, bananas, tomatoes, frozen chicken, pharmaceuticals, and tents. Exporters must submit an undertaking to the Ministry of Commerce to repatriate proceeds within the stipulated timeframe.
The decision is seen as a response to food shortages and soaring inflation in Iran, where prices have risen by more than 100 percent. Pakistani exporters are expected to benefit from a cheaper and safer land route, as international sanctions have complicated banking transactions with Tehran.
Under the new procedure, exporters will repatriate foreign exchange earnings through legal undertakings rather than bank guarantees, with payments recoverable via advance arrangements or alternative legal means. Goods will enter Iran through Taftan before being distributed to local markets or forwarded to Central Asian states.
The policy shift coincides with heightened regional tensions. On Sunday, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar joined counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey in a four-nation session to discuss the Iran-Israel conflict. Dar had earlier spoken with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Agarchi, according to diplomatic sources.
Meanwhile, Indian media has accused Pakistan of playing a central role in the crisis. Reports said India has supported Israel by sending military-grade materials, some of which were intercepted by Italy and Egypt. Iran has denied passage to 20 Indian ships through the Strait of Hormuz, while allowing 20 Pakistani vessels to cross.
Iranian forces have also struck industrial units in Israel and Bahrain in retaliation, raising fears that the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain may join the conflict. Analysts say Arab states are reassessing the reliability of U.S. military bases in the region, which they view as serving Israeli interests rather than Arab defense.
Despite the turmoil, Pakistan’s foreign policy has maintained what officials describe as a “balanced approach” between the United States, Saudi Arabia, China, and Iran.