ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s suspension of trade with Iran at two major border crossings is squeezing household gas supplies, with reports of sharply higher cooking gas prices across the country. Pakistan temporarily closed the Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan crossings in Balochistan to commercial traffic under a Commerce Ministry notification issued on Friday, citing security concerns and the need to curb smuggling. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baqaei, also described the closure as temporary.
The shutdown hits a vital energy route. More than 4,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are reportedly imported daily through Gabd-Rimdan, which has become a key supply line for Pakistan. The Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry says about 2,000 trucks have been affected, and reports say vehicles carrying LPG, rice and fresh fruit are stranded on both sides of the border. Industry sources say Iran supplies roughly half of Pakistan’s LPG imports, and that normal inflows through all routes are around 7,000 tonnes a day.
Prices have reacted quickly. Market reports say a 12 kg cylinder has jumped from about Rs4,500 to Rs7,000 within days, with Lahore at around Rs7,500 and Skardu reaching as high as Rs8,200. LPG that sold for roughly Rs250 per kilogram is now said to be fetching Rs500 to Rs600 in cities such as Lahore. Traders had earlier warned that gas could disappear from local markets altogether if the gridlock continued. With winter approaching and demand set to rise, residents fear the shortage will worsen.
The closure also undermines a trade relationship both governments had been trying to expand. Since March, Islamabad and Tehran have eased customs procedures, formalised Taftan as a customs station and notified new transit routes, against the backdrop of the US-Iran war, which has strained regional economies. Bilateral trade was reported at about $2.8 billion in 2023–24. Drivers have been left waiting at the border for days with few basic facilities.
Officials say talks are under way to restore commerce. A Balochistan government adviser said the border is likely to reopen soon, as a coordinated system to improve border management and prevent smuggling is put in place. Pakistan’s army chief has reportedly travelled to Tehran to discuss border issues and the wider US-Iran tensions with Iranian leaders, and Iran’s foreign ministry says discussions on resuming trade are continuing.