WANA (Apr 30) – Pakistan has announced the activation of a land corridor and the launch of six transit routes for transporting goods to Iran, in response to ongoing maritime restrictions. The move is aimed at easing trade flows and reducing pressure on congested ports.

 

According to reports, thousands of containers have been left stranded at Karachi Port due to limitations affecting Iranian vessels and disruptions in passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistani authorities have moved to establish alternative overland routes to ensure the continued movement of goods without reliance on sea transport.

 

On April 25, Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce issued an urgent directive permitting the transit of goods through its territory. Under this policy, cargo originating from third countries can now be transported overland through Pakistan to Iran.

 

The decision coincided with the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Islamabad, where he met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir. The meetings are seen as part of broader diplomatic efforts to ease tensions and strengthen regional cooperation.

 

The designated routes connect the ports of Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar to Iran’s border crossings at Gabd and Taftan, passing through cities including Turbat, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Quetta, and Dalbandin. Notably, the Gwadar–Gabd corridor—considered the shortest route—reduces travel time to the Iranian border to approximately 2 to 3 hours, compared to 16 to 18 hours from Karachi.

 

Estimates suggest that using these land routes could cut transportation costs by 45 to 55 percent, potentially delivering a significant boost to the efficiency of regional supply chains.