ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has notified six routes for the transportation of goods to Iran against an encashable bank guarantee amid reports that thousands of containers destined for Iran are awaiting clearance at Pakistani ports.

For this to come into force, the Ministry of Commerce has issued a statutory regulatory order, Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026.

According to the order, following routes have been designated for the transit of goods:

• Gwadar-Gabd
• Karachi/ Port Qasim-Lyari-Ormara-Pasni-Gabd
• Karachi/ Port Qasim- Khuzdar-Dalbandin-Taftan
• Gawadar-Turbat-Hoshab-Panjgur-Nagg-Besima-Khuzdar-Quetta/ Lakpass-Dalbandin-Nokundi-Taftan
• Gwadar-Liari-Khuzdar-Quetta/ Lakpass-Dalbandin-Nokundi-Taftan
• Karachi/ Port Qasim -Gwadar- Gabd

Meanwhile, it has been reported that more than 3,000 containers destined for Iran have been stuck at the Karachi port for the past few days. This has been reported as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — which was the route for one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply in peacetime — and that of Iranian ports continues amid a conflict between the US and Iran.

The conflict, which had begun with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, is paused for now as a ceasefire remains effective.

The Ministry of Commerce said in its order that the transportation of cargo under the notification shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Act, 1969, the rules made thereunder, and the procedure prescribed by the Federal Board of Revenue.

The order “shall apply to the transportation of transit goods in transport units, consigned from the territory of a third country and destined to a place in the territory of Iran through the territory of Pakistan”.

It has been issued in pursuance of Article 2 of the Agreement between the government of Pakistan and the government of Iran on International Transport of Passengers and Goods by Road executed in June 2008, and in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950, the ministry said.

The order has come into force with effect from April 25.

Under the order, the transportation of goods has been defined as cross-stuffing, which means the transfer of goods from one container to another container or by any other mode of transportation that shall be allowed in a mode and manner allowed under relevant Customs laws and regulations.

It further defines Customs Security as an encashable financial guarantee, submitted by the traders or through their authorised brokers on transit goods, for an amount equivalent to the import levies of Pakistan, as provided in relevant Customs laws, rules and regulations.

A shipper under the order means any natural or legal person by whom or in whose name a contract of carriage of goods has been concluded with a carrier, or any person by whom or in whose name the goods are actually delivered to the carrier in relation to the contract of carriage of goods.

Under the order, transit has been defined as the movement of goods in transit across the territory of Pakistan when the passage across such territory is only a portion of a complete journey, which begins and ends beyond the borders of Pakistan. Moreover, a transit transport corridor has been explained as a route for use by a carrier for the transit of goods.