Iranian trade delegation visits Gwadar to explore investment and logistics cooperation
By Shahzad Paracha :
A high-level delegation from Iran’s Chabahar Free Zone Organisation has arrived in Gwadar in a move being viewed as a significant step towards strengthening economic and trade cooperation between Pakistan and Iran.
The delegation, headed by Chairman Muhammad Saeed Arbabi, entered Pakistan through the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing and was received by representatives of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including its president Jehand Hut.
The visiting team includes Iranian investors, logistics specialists and figures associated with regional and international trade sectors. During the visit, the delegation is expected to inspect Gwadar Port, the Gwadar Free Zone and several ongoing development projects aimed at expanding the port city’s commercial and industrial capacity.
Officials say discussions are likely to focus on transit trade, logistics cooperation and the possibility of creating a joint regional supply and transportation network linking Gwadar and Chabahar.
Business leaders in Gwadar described the visit as an important development in efforts to deepen regional economic integration and improve trade connectivity between the neighbouring countries.
A spokesperson for the chamber said the engagement could open a “new chapter” in bilateral economic cooperation while also helping accelerate commercial activity in Gwadar.
The delegation is expected to assess infrastructure facilities, industrial zones and investment opportunities during its stay in the port city before travelling onwards to Karachi and Islamabad for meetings with senior government officials and business representatives.
Officials involved in the visit say the discussions may also help pave the way for future delegations and investment interest from Central Asia, Gulf states and European markets.
Gwadar and Chabahar Port are both strategically located ports along the Arabian Sea and are increasingly viewed as important regional trade gateways connecting South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.
Analysts say closer coordination between the two ports could improve regional transit trade routes and strengthen commercial access to Afghanistan, Iran and landlocked Central Asian states.
Pakistan has in recent years intensified efforts to operationalise Gwadar as a regional trade and logistics hub under broader connectivity and infrastructure development plans.
Speaking during the visit, Jehand Hut said Gwadar was evolving beyond its role as a port and was gradually emerging as a wider regional economic centre.
He added that cooperation with Iran could play an important role in boosting investment, logistics and industrial growth in the region.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan is seeking to attract foreign investment, expand trade partnerships and strengthen regional connectivity through maritime and logistics infrastructure projects.
Economic observers say sustained cooperation between Gwadar and Chabahar could reduce transportation bottlenecks, encourage cross-border business activity and create new opportunities for trade integration across the wider region.
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