Islamabad, IRNA — Zero Point Gate between Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan at Taftan border crossing has been reopened after a six-month closure to facilitate duty-free trade between border residents of the two neighboring countries, reports say.
The gate was reopened on Monday after the meeting of the border officials of the two countries at the zero point in Chaghi, Baloshistan facilitating traders, particularly border residents, to easily transport goods needed by people on both sides of the border.
The border crossing was closed six months ago causing many problems for Iranian and Pakistani businessmen, especially residents of Balochistan province, who import their basic goods from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The duty-free trade in the area is based on an old trade agreement between Iran and Pakistan in 1951.
Local traders, especially border residents have welcomed the reopening of the border crossing.
The issue of reopening this trade crossing has always been on the agenda of the Iranian-Pakistani border authorities, and finally today this crossing was reopened for commercial activities, especially the import of basic goods needed by the people of Balochistan, Pakistan, from Iran.
It is worth mentioning that during the visit of the Pakistani Foreign Minister to Tehran in April this year, the Foreign Ministers of Iran and Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding to establish joint border markets with the aim of strengthening cross-border economic exchanges.
The second and third official crossings of Iran and Pakistan were also officially opened in Rimdan (Gabd) and Pishin (Mand) in December last year and April this year, respectively with the presence of Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami, and Pakistan’s Minister of Defense production Zobaida Jalal and other officials.
Last week, during a meeting with members of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce, the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan described the opening of the two official crossings as a positive development between the two neighbors in less than a year.
He added that a joint agreement has been reached to increase the common border markets and the establishment and operation of three border markets has been approved by both parties.
Source: Islamic Republic News Agency – IRNA
