According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways on Saturday, the decision came after a phone conversation between the heads of the Iranian and Pakistani railways, followed by official correspondence calling for the activation of the Taftan railway crossing.

Under the FBR notification, the 11.75-hectare Taftan railway station has been authorized to handle the loading, unloading, customs clearance, and processing of imported and exported goods. The geographical boundaries of the customs facility have also been defined, officially integrating the Taftan rail terminal into Pakistan’s customs network.

Taftan is Pakistan’s main land crossing with Iran and has long held strategic importance but has operated below its full capacity due to infrastructure limitations and the lack of comprehensive customs facilities.

Experts believe the establishment of a railway customs station will facilitate the movement of goods by rail, reduce transportation costs, speed up customs clearance, and improve the organization of cross-border trade.

The initiative is also expected to help curb smuggling and informal trade routes by streamlining documentation, inspection, and customs clearance procedures while encouraging the use of formal trade channels.

The decision comes as Iran and Pakistan have repeatedly pledged in recent years to increase bilateral trade to five billion dollars, although banking restrictions, inadequate border infrastructure, and logistical challenges have slowed progress toward that goal.