Iran Expresses Disappointment ⁣Over Pakistan’s Lack of Cooperation‍ in Trade Facilitation

Quetta, ⁢Pakistan -⁤ August 2, 2025 – Iran’s Consul General in ⁣Quetta, Raghai,‍ has voiced significant disappointment regarding Pakistan’s limited cooperation on facilitating trade⁣ through land, sea, and air routes. Speaking at a session with members of the⁤ Senate Standing‍ Committees on Commerce and Finance at the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and⁤ Industry on Thursday, ⁢Raghai emphasized Iran’s desire for collaboration rather⁣ than ‍competition, ⁣stating, ⁣”We are not here to compete, but to highlight mutual trade issues. The doors of the Iranian Consulate are always open for traders.”

The session,attended by key figures including Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce Anusha Rehman,Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee ‍Saleem Mandviwalla,and Senators Manzoor Kakar,Jan Mohammad Buledi,Bilal Mandokhail,and Samina Zehri,aimed to address the persistent hurdles hindering Pakistan-Iran bilateral trade.

Trade Barriers Hamper ⁢Bilateral Commerce

During the meeting,President of the Quetta Chamber ⁤of Commerce,Haji Mohammad Ayub Marriani,along‍ with Senior Vice President Haji Akhtar Kakar and Vice President Mir Wais Khan kakar,presented a detailed overview of the challenges faced by Pakistani ⁣traders. A primary concern highlighted was the impact of ⁢the Electronic Import Form (EIF), a regulatory tool managed by the state Bank of Pakistan, which has reportedly “frozen” bilateral trade.Further grievances included the prolonged ‍detention of Pakistani cargo trucks by Iranian authorities for 15 to 20 days without clear ⁢explanations. Traders also pointed out a significant imbalance in trade, ‍with⁤ onyl about 10 Pakistani items being exported to⁣ Iran, while hundreds⁣ of Iranian goods are imported into ⁤Pakistan. Concerns were also raised about escalating attestation and visa fees, adding to the cost of doing business.

iran Seeks dialog ‍to Resolve Trade ⁣Impasses

in response to the concerns raised, Consul General Raghai reiterated Iran’s readiness to engage in talks ⁣to⁤ dismantle trade barriers. He urged Pakistani businessmen to⁤ formally communicate the grievances of Pakistani ‍transporters to the Iranian authorities, ensuring a ⁢structured approach to problem-solving.

Raghai questioned the continued restrictions on iranian containers entering Pakistan in the post-COVID era, especially considering ⁣prior agreements to maintain the‍ Mirjaveh border’s 24/7 operational status. He highlighted a specific instance⁤ where Pakistan’s tariffs ⁢on Iranian tiles have reportedly ⁢surged ⁢by 200%,despite Iran’s ⁤capacity to meet Pakistan’s demand for 500,000 meters of ⁣tiles. While Iran welcomes Pakistani exports of meat, rice, and other commodities, Raghai noted ⁢that ⁣challenges persist in receiving reciprocal facilitation.

The Iranian envoy also ⁤expressed frustration over the lack of timely responses from Pakistan’s Foreign Office to communications sent by the consulate. He cited instances where discussions with provincial authorities lead to directives for clearance from Islamabad, and specifically questioned the prolonged detention of two Iranian⁣ containers for‍ over a year without resolution.

raghai reaffirmed the open-door ⁣policy of the ⁣Iranian Consulate, encouraging traders to share their concerns to foster collective solutions. He ⁢also criticized the introduction of new conditions for proposed visits to the‍ Chaman and Taftan borders, further complicating cross-border movement and trade.