The ongoing crisis at the Pakistan-Iran border once again took center stage in a Senate Standing Committee on Finance meeting, pushing aside discussions on the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2025. The impasse has left over 600 trucks stranded at the border, causing severe economic losses and trade disruptions.
During the meeting, an Iranian embassy representative highlighted the dire situation, stating that customs officials were demanding court orders before allowing goods to pass. Each truck carries goods worth approximately $11,000, with daily losses amounting to $100 per truck. The overall economic impact is estimated at $2.2 million per day due to the drastic drop in cross-border trade over the past six months.
Committee Chairman Senator Saleem Mandiwalla underscored the urgency of resolving the issue, calling it a matter of national pride and economic stability. The committee decided to write a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging the government to take immediate action in the next cabinet meeting.
The Iranian representative suggested opening the Rimdan crossing point to facilitate smoother trade. He also noted that while 400 commercial trucks cross the border daily, unnecessary restrictions have severely hampered trade flow.
The committee also discussed new regulatory hurdles, such as the requirement for a certificate of origin, which has further delayed clearance processes. It directed a letter to be sent to the Secretary of Commerce to clarify whether goods not manufactured in the originating country could still qualify for trade under the barter system.
Another major issue raised was the lack of an official banking channel between Pakistan and Iran, which complicates financial transactions. Senator Faisal Vawda criticized the slow response from Pakistani authorities, stating, “Iranians are giving us solutions, but we are still asleep.”
PTI Senator Shibli Faraz also condemned bureaucratic inefficiencies, accusing Pakistani officials of creating hurdles instead of facilitating trade. He called on the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to ease restrictions and support traders.
Meanwhile, the discussion on the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2025, introduced by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, was deferred. The bill was sent to the National Assembly Speaker for clarification regarding its status as a money bill.
With mounting economic losses and growing frustration among traders, the committee pressed for immediate government intervention to resolve the crisis and prevent further damage to Pakistan’s trade relations with Iran.
