Iran War Fallout Hits Balochistan: Border Trade Collapse Drives Prices Sky-High

By: Abdul Karim

Due to the ongoing tensions and war situation between Iran, Israel, and the United States, the Middle East is being directly affected, with conditions remaining highly volatile.

However, the impact of this conflict is not limited to the region alone; Pakistan's province of Balochistan, which borders Iran, is also facing severe economic and financial consequences.

Balochistan has very limited industrial infrastructure, which is why a large portion of its population depends on border trade.

Also Read: Dispute Over Iran War Policy: What Led to Joe Kent's Resignation?

Food items and other essential goods imported from Iran play a crucial role in sustaining the local economy.

Amid the current war situation, there has been a significant decline in the supply of goods from Iran to Balochistan. As a result, prices of Iranian food items and other products have surged sharply in local markets.

Barech Market in Quetta is considered the largest hub for Iranian goods. From baking essentials to Iranian blankets, carpets, and dry fruits, almost everything is available here-often at lower prices and better quality compared to local products. This is why buyers not only from Quetta but also from other provinces visit the market.

A Quetta resident, Izzatullah, shared that he visited Barech Market to shop for Eid preparations, particularly dry fruits, but found prices skyrocketing.

According to him, pistachios that previously cost Rs. 3,000 per kilogram have now risen to Rs. 3,500, making them increasingly unaffordable for the common man.

He added that Barech Market has always been a source of affordable and quality goods for low-income groups, but due to the war, inflation has taken hold here as well.

Meanwhile, Gul Muhammad, a trader dealing in Iranian ceramics at Barech Market, said that most of his goods come from Iranian cities like Isfahan and Tabriz. However, supply chains have been disrupted due to the conflict.

He explained that the shortage of goods, coupled with increased demand ahead of Eid, has pushed prices up by 20 to 30 percent.

According to Gul Muhammad, Iranian goods from Barech Market are supplied across the country, including ghee, biscuits, cakes, dry fruits, canned beans, fish, cream, and other food items. In addition, blankets, mats, carpets, and Iranian coolers are also widely sold and popular nationwide.

He warned that if the war situation prolongs, his business could come to a complete halt.

It is worth noting that Pakistan shares an approximately 909-kilometer-long border with Iran, while the coastal belt of Gwadar and Chabahar also connects the two countries. Iranian goods are transported to Pakistan through Taftan, Mashkhel, Panjgur, Gwadar, Mand Balo, and Jiwani, including via sea routes.

Thousands of people living in these border areas rely on this trade for their livelihood, and the current situation has severely affected not only trade but also their daily lives.

MENAFN18032026000189011041ID1110876760