Gwadar administration suspends Rahdari passes for travel to Iran

GWADAR: The district administration of Gwadar has suspended the issuance of Rahdari documents — commonly known as border passes — that facilitated travel between Pakistan and Iran for residents of border areas.

According to an official statement issued by the Gwadar assistant commissioner, the administration has put a halt on issuing Rahdari passes for travel to Iran until further notice. The notification makes clear that no new Rahdari passes will be provided to any individual for the purpose of crossing into Iran under the existing system.

What is the Rahdari system?

The Rahdari system has long been a key travel arrangement for communities residing along the Pakistan-Iran border. Under this system, residents of border regions on both sides were permitted to travel between the two countries without the need for visas or passports. The facility was exclusively available to people living in the border areas of Pakistan and Iran, serving as an important and convenient means of cross-border movement for decades.

Concerns raised by local residents

The suspension has drawn concern from local communities who rely on the Rahdari system to maintain familial and social connections across the border. Residents have voiced apprehensions that the move will disrupt longstanding ties between families living on both sides of the Pakistan-Iran border and create significant difficulties for cross-border travel.

The Rahdari pass system has historically been regarded as an essential facility for the people of these border regions, enabling them to visit relatives, conduct trade, and maintain social bonds without undergoing the formal visa and passport process. The suspension of this arrangement is expected to affect a considerable number of border-area residents who depend on it for routine cross-border movement.

No timeline has been specified in the notification for when the issuance of Rahdari passes might resume, with the suspension described as being in effect "until further notice."