The Pakistani government has announced six new transit routes to ensure the flow of goods to Iran, while more than 3,000 containers have been waiting for clearance at the Karachi port for several days. This development has come at a time when regional tensions and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz have affected global trade.
These routes have been formally approved under the Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) “Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026” issued by the Ministry of Commerce. The notification aims to continue the flow of goods to Iran through alternative routes.
The announced routes include the route from Gwadar to Gabd, Karachi or Port Qasim to Lyari, Ormara, Pasni and Gabd, while a major route goes from Karachi/Port Qasim to Khuzdar, Dalbandin and Taftan. In addition, transit has also been allowed from Gwadar to Taftan via Turbat, Hoshab, Panjgur, Khuzdar and Quetta. Additional routes include routes from Gwadar to Lyari and Quetta, and from Karachi to Gabd via Gwadar.
According to diplomatic and trade sources, more than 3,000 containers are currently stranded at Karachi port, destined for Iran. This situation has arisen mainly due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iran-US tensions. It should be remembered that the Strait of Hormuz is a key route for the global supply of oil and gas, through which about 20% of the world’s energy passes in peacetime.
According to reports, the tension between the US and Iran, which began on February 28, which also included Israeli attacks, has currently been put on hold due to a ceasefire, but its effects on trade are still present.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the shipment of goods under this new order will be in accordance with the Customs Act 1969 and the rules set by the Federal Board of Revenue. It also allows cross-stuffing, under which goods can be transferred from one container to another.
Furthermore, traders will have to submit a bank guarantee receivable as “customs security”, which is equivalent to import duty in Pakistan. The move is aimed at securing transit trade and ensuring revenue protection.
The order has come into effect from April 25 and will apply to goods being transported to Iran from a third country and Pakistan is being used only as a transit route.
According to experts, this decision of the government will not only revive the stalled trade but also consolidate Pakistan as an important transit hub in the region.
