The district administration in Gwadar has banned all oil-carrying vehicles from entering the city, including those operating between Jiwani, Panjgur, and Gwadar, according to an official notification reported on Monday.
Drivers and transport personnel have been instructed to avoid travelling toward Jiwani, and strict legal action will be taken against violators.
Law enforcement agencies have been directed to ensure full compliance with the ban. Local media reports indicate that the prohibition primarily targets Zamyad trucks and similar vehicles as part of efforts to curb large-scale smuggling from Iran.
Officials say the move is aimed at dismantling a longstanding illegal trade that costs the national exchequer billions of rupees annually.
Intelligence reports estimate that nearly 10 million litres of Iranian petrol and diesel are smuggled into Pakistan each day, causing losses exceeding Rs227 billion.
The smuggling network thrives due to the price gap between Pakistan and Iran, using speedboats, makeshift storage sites, and modified trucks to transport fuel.
The main route begins in Sistan, Iran, with fuel transported through the Dasht River to Jiwani and then on to Gwadar, before reaching deeper areas of Balochistan and parts of Punjab and Sindh.
While the trade supports some local livelihoods, officials warn it undermines legal markets and strengthens organised criminal networks.