TIR cargo handling: Pakistan shows its readiness to Iran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reportedly informed the Iranian government that its relevant authorities are fully prepared to handle cargo under international transshipment and transit arrangements, as procedures have been expedited to ensure smooth clearance of TIR consignments to declared destinations under the UN TIR Convention and TIR Rules, 2017, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

In this regard, Pakistani authorities have conveyed assurances to Iranian diplomats regarding full facilitation for transshipment operations under applicable international frameworks.

Officials highlighted that Pakistan is a signatory to the UN TIR (Transport Internationaux Routiers) Convention for the movement of international transit goods and has been implementing the system since 2017. Recently, the international transshipment regime has also been reviewed, and the scope for movement of goods through Pakistan has been expanded from ports to off-dock terminals to further facilitate international trade.

According to officials, following recent efforts by Pakistan Customs and the updated regulatory framework, cargo—whether under international transshipment or the TIR regime—can now be transported through Pakistan to Iran and the Central Asian States (CAS).

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They added that ports at Gwadar, Karachi and Port Qasim, along with cross-border stations at Sost (China border), Taftan and Gabd/BP-250 (Iran border), have been enabled to process such cargo. Transshipment cargo can be handled at ports and off-dock terminals, while TIR consignments are processed at both ports and border stations across the country.

Iranian diplomats were further informed that Gwadar Port offers modern facilities for port operations and is highly suitable for handling international transshipment and TIR cargo. The PNC-ICC Pakistan has also confirmed that a significant number of Iranian customs stations are already integrated into the IRU system.

Customs officials at Pakistan’s border stations noted that Mir Javeh and Reemdan customs stations in Iran are enabled for handling TIR cargo. However, they pointed out that the Iranian authorities are yet to update the status of the e-TIR module of IRU at Reemdan. In the meantime, TIR consignments can be processed through Gabd/BP-250 for onward movement to other TIR-enabled stations in Iran. “In view of the current position, Pakistani authorities are fully prepared to handle cargo under international transshipment and transit arrangements, and procedures at ports and border stations have been streamlined to ensure smooth movement of TIR cargo to declared destinations under the UN TIR Convention and TIR Rules, 2017,” the sources quoted the communication as stating.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026