ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar on Thursday discussed the possibility of releasing 60 Iranian prisoners in Pakistani jails with a visiting delegation from Tehran in response to its offer of letting 160 Pakistani nationals free from Iranian prisons.
The discussion between the two countries over the issue highlights a broader regional concern where individuals traveling across borders for work are often detained and imprisoned for minor offenses.
The latest conversation between the officials of both states regarding the release these detainees reflects a potential shift toward more compassionate treatment of such individuals that can address the humanitarian concerns of families affected by such detentions.
According to a statement released by Pakistan’s law ministry, Tarar discussed the possibility of prisoner release on humanitarian grounds by both countries with Iranian Deputy Justice Minister for Human Rights and International Affairs Dr. Askar Galailan.
“The Law Minister welcomed the proposal with open heart and assured all possible cooperation from his side,” the statement informed. “[He said] steps must be taken with the support of Ministry of Interior for those who are not involved in any [serious] crime.”
The statement said the total number of Iranian and Pakistani prisoners were shared by the visiting delegation from Tehran.
The two sides also agreed to provide travel and business facilities to improve tourism and trade relations between the two states.
Pakistan and Iran have sought to bolster bilateral trade and foster economic cooperation by establishing border markets in recent months, aiming to facilitate local commerce and strengthen cross-border ties.
Pakistan and Iran discuss humanitarian release of over 200 nationals from each other’s prisons
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Pakistan and Iran discuss humanitarian release of over 200 nationals from each other’s prisons
- A positive development on the issue can bring back 160 Pakistanis currently languishing in Iranian prisons
- The two countries also agree to provide travel and business facilities to improve tourism and trade relations
Pakistan eyes Iran route for potato exports as price slump persists amid Afghan border closure
- Pakistan closed land borders with Afghanistan in October 2025, leading to oversupply of potatoes in markets
- Pakistan exports vegetables, particularly potatoes, a big chunk of which goes to Central Asian states via Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is considering using the Iran corridor to export the surplus quantity of potatoes it has produced to Central Asian countries, Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said on Monday as Islamabad grapples with a potato price glut triggered by the Afghan border closure.
Potato prices in Pakistan fell sharply as Islamabad closed its Chaman and Torkham border crossings with Afghanistan in October 2025 after fierce clashes between both countries left dozens dead.
Afghanistan is a huge market for Pakistani potatoes. The suspension of trade with Kabul has created an oversupply of the vegetable in Pakistan, leading to a sharp decline in its prices. Pakistani farmers have complained of suffering heavy losses as the border crossings remain closed.
Speaking at a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Food Security, Hussain said the border closures had initially caused problems but Islamabad has identified an alternative route to export potatoes to Central Asian countries.
“Authorities are considering the Zahedan-Taftan land route,” Hussain told participants of the meeting.
Hussain said Pakistan generally stores 7 to 8 million metric tons of potatoes annually, adding that the country does not have the capacity to store more than that.
“However, this year 13 million metric tons of potatoes were cultivated, which has caused the market to crash,” he explained.
Pakistan exports vegetables, particularly potatoes, a big chunk of which goes to Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and beyond via Afghanistan.
Hussain said another alternative trade route, one to China, was even shorter but the multiple visa requirement there would create complications for Pakistani exporters.
He said due to the mountainous terrain in China, fuel and other transportation costs would also be higher.
The Commerce Division officials present at the meeting said the route through Iran is longer compared to Afghanistan.
“The prime minister is personally looking into the issue,” Hussain assured members of the committee.
The minister said Russia was not importing Pakistan’s potatoes as it had imposed restrictions due to quality issues a few years earlier.
Pakistan’s agriculture sector accounted for 24 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employed more than 37 percent of its labor force in 2024, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25.
Landlocked Afghanistan has also leaned more heavily on trade routes via Iran and Central Asia since the border closures last year, as it aims to reduce its dependence on Pakistan amid surging tensions between the neighbors.
