THE smuggling of Iranian petrol and petroleum products through the land and sea routes of Makran and Rakhshan divisions in southern Balochistan is a centuries-old phenomenon. The province’s unique socioeconomic conditions, complex security environment, and the absence of licensed petrol pumps operated by oil marketing companies (OMCs) have facilitated the illegal transportation of the commodity across the region. Alth­ough unregulated petrol-oil-lubricant (POL) smuggling through large tankers and boats has declined due to fencing along significant portions of the mutual border, smugglers continue to exploit remote and lessfrequented land and sea routes.

The widespread inflow of smuggled POL is largely a result of the misuse of policy concessions granted by the federal and provincial governments to local residents and border communities. The government, recognising that a complete halt could severely disrupt livelihoods and create fuel shortages, allowed limited supplies for local consumption. However, this arrangement has been systematically exploited by influential smugglers, enabling Iranian POLs to reach urban markets.

The government’s crackdowns on this illegal trade sometimes result in temporary fuel shortages in remote districts. Local political parties, civil society groups and social media activists often highlight such shortages. On their part, smugglers, transporters and beneficiaries resist enforcement, creating political pressure, public protest and law-and-order challenges.

In the light of these circumstances, the government may strictly permit only limited and controlled transportation of Iranian fuel through designated points: Abdoi in Kech, Jalaki in Panjgur (land routes) and Kuntani in Gwadar (sea route).

This fuel should be exclusively for local consumption by registered vehicles. Transportation or landing via other routes should be prohibited, and unregistered pickups must be confiscated. District administrations and law-enforcement agencies have to rigorously monitor this arrangement, and any attempt to bypass regulatory mechanisms should face strict action. Border communities and their local leadership must support the enforcement efforts, avoiding any assistance to smugglers. At the same time, the govern-ment should address the root causes of smuggling by promoting development, safeguarding legitimate economic activity, and minimising hardship facing the local populations.

Establishing licensed OMC petrol pumps in the region can ensure uninterrupted supply of legally imported petroleum products, meeting legitimate consumer demand and reducing reliance on illicit sources. Limited government-to-govern-ment Iranian fuel supplies, local barter trade, or localised refinery development in POL and POL products can cater to border residents’ needs, while strictly banning inter-provincial movement.

A formal regulatory framework relaxing the import condition for border residents for controlled legal imports of Iranian POL could further support local economic activity.

The provincial and local govern­ment in coordination with the law-enforcement agencies may arrange awareness camp-aigns in the region to discourage misuse of trade facilitation policies and report illegal smuggling activity. Surveillance of all remote land and sea routes must be strengthened to prevent unauthorised inflows.

Strict penalties must be imposed on violators. While complete elimination of smuggling may be impractical due to ground realities, its scale can be signifi- cantly reduced through coordinated enforcement, strategic regulatory measures and controlled local trade arrangements.

Shahid Ali Abbasi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2026