Bypassing Afghanistan: Pakistan Sends First Transit Cargo via Iran Corridor to Central Asia's Uzbekistan
According to customs officials cited by "The News International," Pakistan has launched the Pakistan-Iran transit corridor trade, with the first batch of export goods transported through Iran to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
The report states that the initial cargo consisted of frozen meat, transported by refrigerated trucks. The goods departed from Pakistan, passed through Gwadar Port and traversed Iranian territory, ultimately reaching Central Asia. Officials noted that this corridor aims to promote land-based trade and provide an alternative to maritime routes.
Sanaullah Abro, Director General of the Customs Transit Authority, said the corridor is now operational under the International Road Transport (TIR) system, which enables cross-border movement of goods across multiple countries while minimizing customs inspections. He added that major border crossings—including Taftan, Rimdan, Sost, and Gwadar—have been equipped with TIR transit channels, and related procedures have been streamlined to facilitate faster cargo transportation.
At the launch ceremony, Abro and Muhammad Rashid, Director of Transit Transport, officially marked the departure of the first shipment. Officials emphasized that this move is part of a broader effort by Pakistan to strengthen trade ties with Central Asia and reduce logistics costs.
As cited by sources in "The News International," this new route offers exporters a more economical option, expected to shorten transit times while alleviating pressure on sea trade routes. The corridor also holds potential for increasing freight volume at Pakistani ports and boosting exports.
Pakistan is seeking to expand its economic ties with Central Asia—including Uzbekistan—and this development unfolds within that context. As previously reported by "Central Asian Times," bilateral trade between the two countries reached nearly $500 million last year, with approximately 230 Pakistani-capital companies currently operating in Uzbekistan. Areas of cooperation span textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and chemicals.
Both sides have agreed to work toward raising trade volume to $2 billion in the short term. Proposed measures include expanding the list of goods covered under preferential trade agreements, relaxing phytosanitary requirements, and enhancing trade infrastructure—including trade centers in Lahore and Karachi operated by Uzbekistan.
Source: Central Asian Daily
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862378046391306/
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