ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Pakistan Directorate General of Transit Trade announced this week it has operationalized a new transit corridor via Iran by dispatching its first export shipment via the new route to Uzbekistan.
The directorate general said in a press release that the shipment contained frozen beef and was moved in transport trucks from Karachi to Uzbekistan, opening a new route crossing the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing between Pakistan and Iran. It said the shipment will travel to Tashkent from Rimdan in Iran.
Pakistan has eyed Iran as an alternative trade corridor for exports to Central Asia as its traditional overland routes through Afghanistan have faced repeated disruptions. Pakistan has, in recent months, closed key border crossings with Afghanistan amid fierce border clashes with its neighbor, constraining bilateral trade and limiting access to landlocked Central Asian markets.
"The Iran corridor will open access to Iran and Central Asian states to the Pakistani ports of Karachi and Gwadar," the press release said.
It added that Pakistan Customs and the commerce ministry are working together to promote international transshipment through Pakistani ports.
"Recently, Pakistan Customs has allowed the storage facility of international transshipment cargo at the off-dock terminal to increase the existing handling capacity of ports," the press release noted.
The directorate-general of transit trade further said that border customs crossing points, such as the ones at Taftan, Rimdan, Sost and Gwadar, have been enabled by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) Geneva to allow the movement of international road transit consignments from Pakistan.
"The steps will support to increase the port activities, facilitate international trade and transshipment infrastructure at Karachi and Gwadar ports," the press release said.
"The increasing volume of international trade and regional connectivity will bring economic benefit for Pakistan and regional countries."
Pakistan's efforts to enhance regional trade take place as Islamabad seeks to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
The IMF said last month it had reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan which would unlock about $1.2 billion tranche under the Extended Fund Facility and Resilience and Sustainability Facility.
The government has in recent months pushed to expand trade ties and ease export bottlenecks as part of broader efforts to support growth and external balances.