QUETTA: In a significant development for the residents of Mashkel, the Katagar Zero Point border crossing gate was officially inaugurated on October 9, 2025, ending four years of closure . The move promises to ease travel and trade with neighboring Iran and was followed by a major announcement regarding another crucial crossing.
The joint inauguration ceremony was led by Inspector General Frontier Corps (IGFC) South Balochistan, Major General Bilal Sarfraz, and Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) and Khadim of Washuk, Haji Mir Zabid Ali Reki.
MPA Haji Mir Zabid Ali Reki expressed great joy at the reopening, calling it a moment of happiness for the people of Mashkel. He stated that residents would now face no difficulty traveling to and from Iran.
He further highlighted the economic importance of another crossing, the Guzzar border. He stated that the Guzzar border is equally vital for the livelihoods of thousands of families in the area and appealed to the IGFC South to consider reopening it, which he said would be a festive occasion for border residents.
IGFC South Announces Further Reopening
Addressing the gathering, IGFC South Balochistan Major General Bilal Sarfraz praised the people of Mashkel and Washuk as peaceful and hospitable. He acknowledged the difficulties caused by the closure of the Guzzar border.
In a key assurance to the public, Major General Sarfraz stated, “just as the Katagar Zero Point border gate has been reopened today, the Guzzar border in Mashkel will also be reopened within this month, Insha’Allah (God willing).”
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Ceremony Attended by Local Leaders
The ceremony was attended by a large gathering of notable figures, including Commandant Mashkel Rifles Muhammad Asif, Assistant Commissioner Mashkel Ahmad Zaib, religious scholar Maulana Muhammad Yaqoob, and numerous tribal elders and political leaders.
The participants expressed gratitude for the reopening of the Zero Point crossing and welcomed the announcement regarding the Guzzar border. They voiced hope that this step would help alleviate the economic hardships and financial distress faced by the people of Mashkel and Washuk.
