In a significant policy shift aimed at facilitating regional trade, Pakistan has decided to allow the transit of goods to Iran through its territory, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce.

The notification, titled the Pakistan through Transit Trade to Iran Order, 2026, has come into immediate effect. It enables goods originating from any third country to be transported through Pakistan and delivered to designated locations in Iran, marking a major step toward enhancing cross-border trade connectivity.

To implement the decision, the federal government introduced amendments to the Import and Export Control Act, 1950, providing the legal framework for the transit arrangement. Officials said the order will apply specifically to goods that originate outside Pakistan and are transported through Pakistani territory en route to Iran.

The government has also specified multiple transit corridors and routes to operationalize the initiative. Key maritime and land entry points include Gwadar, Karachi, and Port Qasim. From these hubs, consignments will move through a network of Balochistan routes.

Among the designated routes, the Gwadar–Gabd corridor is included, along with routes passing through coastal and inland points such as Lyari, Maira, Pasni, and Gabd. Additional routes connect Karachi and Port Qasim to Iran via Khuzdar, Dalbandin, and Taftan.

A longer inland corridor has also been approved, linking Gwadar with Turbat, Hoshab, Panjgur, Nag, Besima, Khuzdar, Quetta (via Lak Pass), Dalbandin, Nokundi, and Taftan. Another parallel route connects Gwadar through Lyari, Khuzdar, Quetta, Dalbandin, Nokundi, and Taftan.

Officials noted that both Gwadar and Karachi/Port Qasim routes will serve as primary gateways for transit shipments, providing flexibility to traders and logistics operators.

According to the notification, all movement of goods under this arrangement will be governed by rules framed under the Customs Act, 1969. Furthermore, the transportation process will be carried out strictly in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), ensuring regulatory oversight and compliance.

The decision is seen as a strategic move to position Pakistan as a regional transit hub while strengthening economic linkages with neighboring countries and beyond. Officials believe the new policy will not only streamline trade flows but also generate economic activity along the designated corridors, particularly in Balochistan.

On April 13, Pakistan formally launched the Pakistan-Iran transit corridor, marking a significant step toward enhancing regional trade connectivity, as the first export consignment was dispatched from Karachi to Tashkent.

The inaugural shipment, consisting of frozen meat departed from Karachi as part of the newly established route, providing exporters with a more efficient and reliable land-based alternative for reaching Central Asian markets. An opening ceremony was held in Karachi to mark the occasion.