PNN – A British media outlet has reported that the closure of the border by Pakistan has halted the import of liquefied gas from Iran.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; the closure of two key border crossings by the government in Islamabad has stopped the import of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Iran into Pakistan, leading to shortages and a price hike for this fuel within the country.
The Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan border crossings were closed on October 17. The local government of Pakistan’s Balochistan province stated that this temporary measure was taken to address security concerns and combat smuggling.
According to the LPG Association of Pakistan, the country imports approximately 7,000 tons of this fuel from Iran daily.
Shams-ul-Haq, former president of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that over 4,000 tons of these shipments were entering Pakistan daily via the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing—a flow that has now come to a halt.
Traders report that the price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder in Pakistan has surged within a few days from 4,500 rupees (approximately $16) to 7,000 rupees (approximately $25). Industry stakeholders have also warned that if the disruption to imports persists, shortages will worsen and prices will continue to rise.
Meanwhile, hundreds of trucks—including tankers transporting LPG—are stranded on both sides of the border.
Shams-ul-Haq also stated that over a thousand Pakistani containers carrying potatoes, bananas, and rice, bound for Iran, are waiting to cross the border. However, the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing was reopened on Wednesday to allow for the export of perishable goods from Pakistan.
Reuters further reported that the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry has advised its members not to place new orders from Iran until further notice. Truck drivers stranded at the border have also reported enduring long waits under difficult conditions, with limited access to basic necessities.