Karachi, October 16, 2025 – Pakistan has suspended Afghan transit trade operations with immediate effect amid escalating unrest along the Pak-Afghan border, according to an official notification issued by the Directorate of Transit Trade, a division of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The order directed that all Afghan transit containers currently loaded on vehicles and parked inside terminals be dismounted immediately, while the corresponding gate passes be cancelled by terminal operators. It further stated that the transportation of Afghan transit cargo will remain suspended until trade activities resume at the border customs stations.
Officials said the decision was made following an emergency meeting chaired by the Director of Transit Trade on October 13, 2025. The Director General of Transit Trade also attended the session via Zoom, where participants discussed the worsening situation caused by border unrest and its impact on port and terminal operations.
The meeting revealed that the recent closure of Pak-Afghan border routes has caused significant cargo congestion at major terminals in Karachi and at border customs stations. These facilities are now operating at near maximum capacity, with a backlog of en route containers yet to reach their destinations.
Participants expressed serious security concerns over the storage and movement of bonded cargo amid the current situation, prompting authorities to halt further shipments until stability returns.