Pakistan Launches New Iran, China Trade Corridors to Bypass Afghanistan

Pakistan has launched two new overland trade corridors, one via Iran's Gabd-Rimdan border crossing and another through China's Sost Dry Port. These routes became operational in April 2026, offering Central Asian countries alternative ways to reach Pakistani ports. This move follows Pakistan's indefinite closure of the Torkham and Chaman crossings in October 2025 due to persistent cross-border militancy.

More than 14,000 metric tons of cargo have already been transported through these new routes. One corridor was formally inaugurated in Karachi with senior representatives from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The routes are presented as a permanent alternative for Central Asian nations seeking global market access without relying on Afghan transit. The first convoy carried frozen meat and other exports to Tashkent and Bishkek via Iran.

Pakistan also dispatched its first export shipment from the Karachi Export Processing Zone to Kyrgyzstan using the Sost Dry Port under the TIR regime. The Bishkek-Karachi corridor, spanning 3,300 kilometers and operating under the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement, has completed its first reciprocal commercial shipments. Additionally, Uzbekistan is using the Gabd-Rimdan route for transporting agricultural equipment and industrial raw materials.

The initiative also involves expanding the role of Gwadar Port in Phase 2 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This port, located east of the Strait of Hormuz, is expected to handle increased cargo volumes as regional trade routes diversify. The new network enhances the use of the TIR transit regime and the Pakistan Single Window system for electronic customs documentation.