QUETTA: Iranian authorities reopened on Monday the Zero Point on the Pakistan-Iran border that remained closed for over three weeks.

The border crossing point was closed on March 20 in connection with Nauroz that is celebrated in Iran and Afghanistan on the beginning of spring every year.

“All trade activities on both sides of the border remained suspended during the closure of the point,” Pakistani border authorities said.

However, traders and other people with visas and passports had been allowed to cross the border during the closure of the point.

Local officials said the closure had mostly affected the people carrying edible and other small items as they were at the mercy of border authorities on both sides.

A large number of people belonging to Taftan and border areas of Iran are involved in cross-border trade carried out through the Zero Point.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2017