QUETTA (Web Desk) - Pakistani authorities have re-opened a key border crossing with Iran through its southwestern Balochistan province, a businessperson and customs clearing agent said on Sunday, after temporarily closing it for a week due to security reasons.
The week-long closure also triggered shortages of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) across the country, mainly in its most populous Punjab province, where most industries and residents rely on LPG for their domestic use. The closure spiked prices of LPG cylinders, with traders warning they would go up further if the closure persisted.
“Authorities opened the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing on Saturday,” Naveed Jan Kalamati, president of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce, told Arab News.
“Hundreds of trucks loaded with rice and other food items crossed into Iran while LPG bowsers were allowed to cross into Pakistan,” he added.
He said the border crossing was “chocked” as a large number of trucks were trying to cross after the week-long closure.
Government officials in the port city of Gwadar and Quetta did not respond to Arab News queries on the border re-opening.