Pakistan reopened its border crossing with Iran at Gabd-Rimdan on Saturday, restoring bilateral trade after a week-long suspension that began on 17 October. Border officials cleared commercial consignments holding a consignment note dated 16 October or earlier to cross at the point, known as Gate 250, in Gwadar district. The reopening was confirmed by Mir Naveed Jan Kalmati, president of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who said trucks and other vehicles were moving in both directions with import and export goods.

The suspension had stranded hundreds of trucks and LPG tankers, plus more than 1,000 containers, and pushed up prices. Traders reported that a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder rose from about 4,500 rupees to roughly 7,000 rupees during the closure, with per-kilo rates reported at 500 to 600 rupees in some cities. Pakistan depends on roughly 7,000 tonnes of Iranian LPG a day, with more than 4,000 tonnes normally routed through Gabd-Rimdan, so the closure bit quickly as winter approached.

Why the crossing closed

Pakistan's Ministry of Commerce abruptly suspended trade at both Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan on 17 October, withdrawing an order of 3 October without specifying a reason. During the suspension, unidentified gunmen attacked the backlog of freight vehicles parked near the closed Gabd-Rimdan crossing, setting dozens of trucks ablaze and damaging others. Local administrators reviewed the security situation and deployed additional forces to protect trade convoys before reopening.

Kalmati welcomed the decision, saying it would bring immediate relief to traders and transporters stranded on both sides, and expressing hope that renewed supply would ease the LPG shortage and reduce soaring energy and food prices. That hope is not yet a confirmed price fall: no updated retail figures followed Saturday's reopening, and the full resumption of LPG flows and the reopening of Taftan remain unresolved. Sources: Dawn reporting via Tijarat News, and Particle News.