Skardu, 27 December 2023 (TDI): The Pakistan-China border unlocks its gates for commercial ventures. For a ten-day window, the border welcomes goods-laden vehicles departing from Pakistan bound for China and Central Asian nations, operating under Pakistan’s transit trade.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar Al-Haq Kakar previously announced plans during a Belt and Road Forum event in Beijing last October to transform this pass into an all-weather border.
The pass that connects Gilgit-Baltistan with China’s Xinjiang region will remain open for commercial activities for ten days.
This decision will facilitate goods carrying vehicles from Pakistan to China and Central Asian countries through the Khunjerab Corridor under the transit trade agreement.
In October, the Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq announced at a Belt and Road initiative forum event that the Khunjerab pass would be converted into an all-weather model. Moreover, they would also upgrade other logistic services to facilitate trade as well as the movement of people.
However, after this announcement, the Khunjerab port management of China’s Xinjiang region issued a notice in November that it would remain closed from December to March. It will only open temporarily during these months in case of urgent necessity.
The reason for that closure notice was the excessive snowfall during these months, which hampers trade. Additionally, due to zero traffic management, vehicles carrying import and export items remained stuck for hours.
Also Read: Vision Pakistan: Road to USD 100 billion exports, Pak-China trade
In line with the border protocol agreement signed between the two countries in 1985, the Khunjerab pass remains open for travel and trade between April and November.
It has been reported that the government has decided to open the Khunjerab Corridor for ten days from today on an experimental basis. It will remain open for commercial activities.
NLC cargo vehicles will depart from China to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and other Central Asian countries under the International Transit Trade Agreement. In addition, NLC vehicles will depart from China to Afghanistan.
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