ISLAMABAD, Pakistan:
In a significant development for regional trade and connectivity, President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Pakistan Land Port Authority Bill, 2025, officially making it law. With this step, Pakistan becomes the third South Asian nation, after India and Bangladesh, to establish a dedicated body to regulate and streamline operations at land border crossings.
The newly formed Pakistan Land Port Authority (PLPA) will serve as a central platform to coordinate with multiple agencies, including customs, immigration, and security forces, to ensure smoother movement of goods and people across borders. The authority is expected to reduce trade bottlenecks, enhance transparency, and improve efficiency in border management.
According to officials, the PLPA will play a critical role in strengthening regional trade integration and ensuring compliance with international agreements related to cross-border operations. Experts believe this initiative could significantly improve Pakistan’s competitiveness in global markets, provided it is backed by effective planning, transparent governance, and inter-agency collaboration.
The establishment of the Land Port Authority is being seen as a strategic move to modernize Pakistan’s border operations, especially in the wake of increasing regional connectivity projects under frameworks like CPEC. However, trade experts emphasize that the authority’s success will depend on how efficiently it implements its mandate and coordinates with other key stakeholders.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.