Key points
- Port authority to oversee management of border crossing points
- It will streamline inter-agency coordination between customs, immigration and security forces
Islamabad: Pakistan has formally established a national land port authority after President Asif Ali Zardari signed the Pakistan Land Port Authority Bill, 2025, into law.
The move marks a significant policy shift aimed at improving cross-border trade and passenger movement across the country’s land borders with neighbouring states.
A statement issued by the President’s House on Saturday said the newly formed Pakistan Land Port Authority (PLPA) will function as a centralised body to oversee the management of border crossing points.
Inter-agency coordination
It is expected to streamline inter-agency coordination between customs, immigration, and security forces, areas that have traditionally operated in isolation, often resulting in delays and inefficiencies.
With this development, Pakistan becomes the third country in South Asia, after Bangladesh and India, to establish a dedicated authority focused on land border management and trade facilitation, it said.
The Authority will be responsible for implementing a unified system to manage the movement of goods and people at border terminals.
This includes modernising infrastructure, introducing digital clearance systems, and ensuring Pakistan’s compliance with its international trade and transit obligations.
Addressing logistical bottlenecks
Experts say the authority could play a vital role in addressing logistical bottlenecks at key border points, such as those with Afghanistan, Iran, and other countries in the region.
The PLPA has been years in the making. Previous attempts to introduce similar legislation date back to 2012, with successive governments failing to push it through. The current version of the bill was tabled in December 2024 and passed by the National Assembly earlier this month.
Still, implementation challenges remain. Observers caution that unless the authority is empowered with adequate resources and inter-agency cooperation, the initiative could struggle to meet its ambitious goals.
Trade and connectivity strategy
For now, Islamabad is positioning the PLPA as a cornerstone of its trade and connectivity strategy, one that could reshape the country’s role in South and Central Asia’s evolving economic landscape.
The law provides a legal framework for the declaration, regulation, and security oversight of land ports. It aims to promote trade, ensure fair competition, implement border control mechanisms, and protect Pakistan’s strategic interests. The authority will also be responsible for implementing international trade facilitation commitments, enhancing coordination among border agencies, and introducing advanced technologies at crossing points to combat illegal immigration and smuggling.
