Uzbekistan Utilizes New Pakistani Trade Corridors

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has begun using new overland trade corridors opened by Pakistan through Iran and China, bypassing the territory of Afghanistan. The Jerusalem Post reported the development.

According to the publication, Tashkent has already utilized the route through the Iranian border crossing at Gabd-Rimdan to transport agricultural machinery and industrial raw materials. The new transport corridors, which became operational in April 2026, have provided Central Asian countries with alternative access to Pakistani seaports and global markets.

Pakistan opened the routes through the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing on the Iranian border and the Sost dry port on the Chinese border after indefinitely closing its main transit points at Torkham and Chaman on the Afghan direction in October 2025 due to security concerns.

To date, over 14,000 metric tonnes of cargo have reportedly been transported via the two new routes.

The official launch of one of the transport corridors took place in Karachi with the participation of senior representatives from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

The first convoy delivered frozen meat and other export products to Tashkent and Bishkek in transit through Iran. In addition, Pakistan dispatched its first export shipment of goods from the Karachi Free Economic Zone to Kyrgyzstan through the Sost dry port using the TIR (International Road Transport) system.

Within the framework of the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement, the first commercial shipments were also carried out along the 3,300-kilometer Bishkek-Karachi route. Kyrgyz carriers delivered minerals and textiles to Pakistan.

Separately, it is reported that the Hemani Group transported a 23.9-tonne cargo consignment to Kyrgyzstan using the Pakistan Single Window electronic system, which is designed for processing customs documentation during cross-border transportation.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the new network of transport routes involves wider use of the TIR regime and the Pakistan Single Window electronic system, and it is expected to strengthen the role of the deepwater Gwadar Port within the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The port is anticipated to handle growing volumes of cargo traffic moving along the new overland routes.