Pak-Iran: Trade and travel suspended for three weeks

Cross-border movement of people and trade activities between Pakistan and Iran have been suspended for three weeks due to the closure of trade gate ‘Zero Point’ and travelling gate ‘Raahdari’ in Taftan.

Official sources told The Express Tribune on Monday that Assistant Commissioner of Taftan Habib Nasir had called a meeting of the border authorities from Pakistan and Iran for Monday, but the meeting could not be held as his Iranian counterpart was on leave.

The sources also said that the Chagai deputy commissioner would send a letter to the Iranian authorities and apprise them of the problems being suffered by people in the border town.

People from different walks of life have demanded of the government to take up the issue of the closure of the two gates in Taftan with the Iranians and get them reopened.

According to Levies officials based in Taftan, the Iranian authorities had closed the two gates on October 16, owing to the Chehlum of Hazart Imam Hussain (RA), but they did not reopen the gates after the event.

The continued closure of the gates has left thousands of workers without jobs and created a shortage of Iranian goods in Chagai and neighboring districts.

The sources said hundreds of people, having a 15-day permit issued by the Deputy Commissioner Office in Dalbandin, had been waiting to travel to Iran.