Pakistan opens up road trade routes into Iran amid Hormuz blockade
Summary
Pakistan has opened six new road routes to transport goods to Iran through its land, creating an overland trade corridor amid a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and ships. This move aims to help Iranian trade by bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, a key but currently restricted waterway for shipping.Key Facts
- Pakistan issued a new order on April 25, 2026, allowing third-country goods to travel through Pakistan to Iran by road.
- Six routes connect Pakistani ports (Karachi, Port Qasim, Gwadar) to Iranian border crossings Gabd and Taftan.
- The Gwadar-Gabd route is the shortest and fastest, cutting travel time to 2-3 hours and lowering transport costs by up to 55%.
- The new transit order excludes goods originating from India due to a ban after the 2025 India-Pakistan aerial conflict.
- The U.S. Navy blockade on Iranian ports began after attacks by U.S. and Israeli forces on Iran in February 2026, disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Pakistan hosted diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran, aiming to mediate an end to the conflict, but no agreement has been reached.
- Over 3,000 containers destined for Iran remain stuck at Karachi port because ships cannot pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iranian officials have not publicly responded to Pakistan’s transit order but continue to engage with Pakistan’s mediation efforts.
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