ISLAMABAD – In response to ongoing clashes along the Durand Line amid the escalating Pak-Afghan War 2025, Pakistan has officially suspended Afghan Transit Trade operations from Karachi ports until further notice, according to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The announcement came following a high-level meeting at the Directorate of Transit Trade Headquarters at Customs House Karachi. The session was chaired by the Director General (DG) of Afghan Transit Trade, with directors from Quetta and Peshawar joining via Zoom.
In the aftermath of the meeting, Customs General Order 98.2025 was issued, confirming the suspension of transit trade operations due to severe logistical congestion at the Quetta and Peshawar customs stations. The FBR cited a critical lack of storage space, with both stations overwhelmed by containers already in holding.
The order has directed all terminals to offload containers currently on vehicles and immediately cancel all gate passes related to Afghan-bound shipments. It further instructed that no new Afghan transit trade cargo be processed or cleared until further instructions are issued.
Following the order, operations at Karachi Port and Port Qasim were halted, affecting the movement of goods destined for Afghanistan. Customs officials have confirmed long queues at the South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT), with hundreds of containers awaiting clearance and more stalled en route to the western borders.
The suspension of the Afghan Transit Trade is the latest fallout from rising tensions and armed engagements between Pakistani and Afghan forces at the border, further straining bilateral trade and regional logistics.
Officials said the suspension will remain in effect until the situation stabilizes and customs stations can accommodate additional freight.
