Pakistan has officially designated the Taftan railway station near the Pakistan-Iran border as a land customs facility for import and export clearance, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced this week. The move is part of broader efforts to boost bilateral trade between the two neighboring countries.
Customs Facility Notification
The FBR issued a notification on June 23, declaring the Taftan railway station, which spans 11.75 acres, as a land customs station. The notification stated that the facility will be used for loading, unloading, and clearance of goods imported or to be exported. The announcement coincided with the arrival of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian in Islamabad for a state visit.
“The Federal Board of Revenue is pleased to declare Railway Station Taftan, measuring 11.75 acres of land, to be a land customs station for the purpose of loading, unloading and clearance of goods or any class of goods imported or to be exported,” the Pakistani revenue authority said.
Strategic Importance of Taftan
Taftan is Pakistan’s main land crossing with Iran and has long held strategic importance for trade. However, it has operated below its full capacity due to infrastructure limitations and the lack of comprehensive customs facilities. The new designation is expected to address these challenges.
The decision followed a phone conversation between the heads of the Iranian and Pakistani railways, along with official correspondence, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. Experts cited by IRNA said the establishment of a railway customs facility will facilitate the movement of goods by rail, reduce transportation costs, speed up customs clearance, and improve cross-border trade.
Boosting Bilateral Trade
Pakistan and Iran have set an ambitious target to raise their bilateral trade to $10 billion from the current level of around $3 billion. Last year, both sides signed 12 agreements and memorandums of understanding for cooperation in diverse fields. During President Pezeshkian’s visit to Islamabad, the two countries agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, agriculture, and security. Tehran also expressed interest in sourcing up to 60 percent of its meat imports from Pakistan.
The new customs facility at Taftan railway station is a significant step toward achieving these trade goals, as it streamlines customs procedures and enhances connectivity between the two nations.
