ISLAMABAD: In a move aimed at strengthening border trade management and improving documentation of cross-border flows, Pakistan has established a new customs station at Jeerak in Panjgur district, Balochistan, along the Pakistan-Iran border.

The facility is expected to facilitate passenger movement, regulate personal baggage, and channel informal trade into the formal economy.

The decision comes as part of ongoing efforts to formalise cross-border movement in Balochistan, where informal trade and undocumented travel have historically remained high due to the porous border and limited infrastructure.

To implement the decision, the Federal Board of Revenue has issued Customs Notification SRO 530 of 2026 to operationalise the new station, which is part of broader efforts to strengthen border management and bring greater oversight to cross-border movement.

Jeerak station to regulate cross-border passengers and curb smuggling

Customs officials say that expanding customs coverage at key entry points will improve monitoring, promote documented trade flows, and provide a regulated channel for passengers and personal baggage. The step also aligns with the government’s push to curb smuggling along the Pak-Iran border while facilitating legitimate trade.

Jeerak has been designated as the fifth official crossing for trade and transit between Pakistan and Iran, reflecting rising demand for legal cargo handling and passenger facilitation. The development is expected to reduce congestion at existing routes, particularly the Taftan Border Crossing, which has long served as the primary gateway for bilateral trade and movement.

The move builds on earlier measures to expand border infrastructure. In January 2025, the government opened another crossing point in the Kohak Cheedgi area of Panjgur to support formal trade and stimulate bilateral trade.

Customs officials said the new station has been established in coordination with Iranian authorities to facilitate documented trade and curb smuggling in the border region. They added that the initiative is expected to contribute to local economic activity in District Panjgur by creating employment opportunities for youth and supporting small-scale businesses linked to cross-border trade.

Similar measures taken earlier, including the opening of new crossing points in the region, were also aimed at promoting legal trade, discouraging illicit flows, and generating livelihoods for border communities.

The business community in Quetta believes the new customs station will encourage documented imports and exports while discouraging smuggling by providing a regulated, accessible trade route for local traders.

In December 2024, the government also inaugurated the Gabd-Rimdan Border Crossing to improve connectivity and facilitate people-to-people exchanges. Located near the strategic ports of Chabahar in Iran and Gwadar in Pakistan, the crossing reflects both countries’ efforts to strengthen regional trade linkages and enhance cross-border integration.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2026