TAFTAN: Pakistani traders received a significant boost as the business visa services for travel to Iran resumed at the Taftan border crossing after nearly a year-long suspension. This development is expected to rejuvenate cross-border trade and economic exchanges.
Located in the Chagai district of Balochistan, Taftan is the main land route connecting Pakistan with Iran’s border town of Mirjaveh.
Officials confirmed that the reactivation of the business visa process follows a formal notice from the Balochistan Home Department, signaling a new phase in Pakistan-Iran trade relations.
Under the updated protocol, the FIA passport checkpoint at Taftan has been partially reopened, allowing only registered Pakistani traders possessing valid business visas to enter Iran.
The visa facility had been temporarily halted due to regional security concerns and rising tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which prompted authorities to restrict movement at the border for several months.
Traders expressed optimism about the move, emphasizing that the re-establishment of the visa system would boost bilateral commerce, support business growth, and generate employment opportunities along the border area.
Local business leaders viewed this step as a positive move for the regional economy and are hopeful that trade volumes between Pakistan and Iran will see a marked increase soon.
Previous Developments
Last month, Pakistani Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi held discussions with Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Reza Amiri Moghadam, focusing on the Taftan–Zahedan railway corridor and broader railway cooperation.
During their meeting in Islamabad, both sides examined bilateral relations, regional connectivity, and regional security issues. The Pakistani minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening its partnership with Iran and expanding cooperation in key sectors, including railway infrastructure, to strengthen regional integration.
