Reza Ghorbani, Director General of Chabahar Customs, announced on Monday that the number of customs lanes at Rimdan has been increased from one to three, comprising the border bazaar, the terminal, and the free trade zone. Customs personnel have been deployed to the two newly established lanes, with all three operational around the clock in full compliance with applicable regulations.
"The transition to 24/7 operations at Rimdan has been instrumental in achieving a fourfold increase in truck crossings year-on-year," Ghorbani said. He added that all agencies operating at the border are coordinating efforts to expedite clearance and reduce transit times.
Ghorbani noted that Iran's Customs Chief is personally monitoring daily operations at Rimdan as part of broader trade facilitation policies under the Ministry of Economy's directive that borders serve as transit corridors rather than storage points.
However, Ghorbani acknowledged that infrastructure constraints on the Pakistani side remain a bottleneck, with only a single lane currently operational. He welcomed recent developments, stating that Pakistani authorities have agreed to adopt 24/7 operations at their customs facilities at the crossing.
"Securing Pakistani commitment to round-the-clock operations represents a significant step forward in removing one of the key obstacles to seamless cross-border trade," he added.
Rimdan serves as a vital artery for Iran's foreign trade, linking the country to Pakistan and broader South Asian markets. The expansion comes amid broader regional efforts to enhance trade connectivity and streamline customs procedures in line with international standards.