The fight between Iran and Israel is impacting not only the immediate area of conflict but also Pakistan’s Balochistan province. The closure of border crossings between Pakistan and Iran has made trade and everyday life more difficult. This incident illustrates the significance of cross-border trade to the regional economy.
Several small gas stations in Quetta have had to close because it’s hard to find Iranian gas. Because of this lack of resources, travel costs have gone up, and rickshaw drivers and transport companies have raised their prices, which makes life harder for people who live there.
The border closing has also made it possible for LPG gas to run out, which will probably make prices go up even more. In the past, Quetta markets were full of Iranian goods, like food and household items like blankets, cooking oil, cookies, and dried fruits. Because these things are hard to find now, their prices have gone up by 100%, which makes it much harder for families to get by.
Both the provincial and federal governments have had to work hard to keep inflation in check and make sure that basic goods are always available. The economic crisis in Balochistan shows how wars between countries can easily hurt the province. This is because its economy is still very dependent on trade with Iran.
In order to maintain peace in the high-tension area, the federal government has implemented border crossing restrictions in five districts: Chaghi, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech, and Gwadar. Even though trading at the official border posts is still technically allowed, the suspension of crossings has really stopped a lot of the small-scale and informal trade that keeps local economies going.
People from Pakistan, especially students and pilgrims, can still come back from Iran even though the borders are closed. More than 450 Pakistani pilgrims have already been evacuated, and work is still going on to help people who are stuck in areas affected by conflict get home safely.
The fight between Iran and Israel also makes people think about where Pakistan fits into the bigger picture of world politics. Some media outlets have said that Tehran might get help if the fight gets worse, but Islamabad has officially stuck to its position of moral and diplomatic support and has not gotten involved.
The war between Iran and Israel has made it very clear that Balochistan’s economy depends a lot on trade with Iran. People in the area are now having trouble with their daily lives because of fuel shortages, higher prices, and other issues.
This situation shows how important it is for the federal and provincial governments to make plans to stabilize the local economy and reduce the impact of conflicts in other parts of the world on the area. The border remains closed, and the distant war continues to impact Balochistan.
