GWADAR: Pakistan reopened the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing with Iran on Saturday, October 24, restoring commercial movement after a weeklong suspension that left freight vehicles stranded and disrupted supplies of liquefied petroleum gas and essential food commodities.
The reopening offered relief to traders and transporters following days of uncertainty, while raising hopes that renewed imports could help ease pressure on supplies and prices in Pakistan.
In this regard, the border officials allowed commercial consignments carrying consignment notes dated October 16 or earlier to pass through the crossing, also known as Gate 250, in Gwadar district.
Mir Naveed Jan Kalmati, president of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, confirmed that trade operations restarted on Saturday morning.
He said trucks and other vehicles carrying imports and exports were being allowed to travel between Pakistan and Iran.
The clearance condition means the reopening initially covered consignments documented before the suspension.
The information provided did not establish whether authorities had also authorised newly booked shipments.
Kalmati welcomed the restoration of trade, saying it would provide immediate relief to businesses and drivers stranded on both sides of the border.
He expressed hope that renewed supply movements would help ease Pakistan’s LPG shortage and bring down rising energy and food prices.
However, those expectations represent a potential benefit of resumed trade, rather than confirmation that retail prices have already fallen. The report provided no updated market figures following Saturday’s reopening.
For businesses awaiting delayed cargo, the immediate development was the opportunity to move goods after the prolonged interruption.
The crossing reopened after local administrators assessed security conditions and deployed additional personnel to protect trade convoys.
The attack compounded difficulties for transporters whose vehicles had accumulated near the border during the suspension.
The supplied account did not identify the attackers or provide a confirmed financial assessment of the damage.
Ministry’s Suspension Had Halted Two Crossings
Commercial traffic had been suspended since October 17, when Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce halted trade through Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan.
The ministry withdrew an October 3 trade order through a memorandum taking immediate effect, without specifying a reason in that document.
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Saturday’s reported reopening concerned Gabd-Rimdan; the supplied information did not confirm a corresponding resumption of commercial operations at Taftan.
