Hundreds of trucks carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), rice and other commodities have been stranded along the Pakistan-Iran border after Islamabad suspended trade through two key crossings, raising concerns over fuel supplies and rising prices.
The restrictions at Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan in Pakistan's Balochistan province were imposed over security and smuggling concerns, although Iranian authorities attributed the disruption to technical problems.
Pakistan's Ministry of Commerce issued the suspension order on Friday.
Shahid Rind, adviser to the Balochistan chief minister on media affairs, said the move was "necessary to improve the security situation and administrative affairs on both sides of the border".
He said officials from both countries were holding talks to resolve the issues and restore commercial operations.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also described the closure as temporary but cited technical difficulties, according to state-run IRNA news agency.
Traders warn of losses, LPG prices may rise
The Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) said commercial activities had been suspended across the Pakistan-Iran border and advised businesses against placing fresh import and export orders.
More than 2,000 containers were reportedly stranded at Gabd-Rimdan alone, according to Arab News, while traders warned of substantial financial losses.
Iran's WANA news agency reported that passenger movement through Rimdan-Gabd remained operational despite the halt in commercial traffic.
The crossing is a major route for Pakistan's energy imports, handling more than 4,000 tonnes of LPG daily, according to Dawn.
The disruption could tighten fuel supplies and push up prices in Pakistan's open market, particularly as trade through Taftan had already faced interruptions amid unrest in Balochistan.
The 909-kilometre border between Pakistan's Balochistan and Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan provinces has four official crossings — Taftan-Mirjaveh, Gabd-Rimdan, Mand and Chadgi.
Both countries have described the restrictions as temporary, but no date has been announced for reopening the crossings.