Pakistan-China trade through Khunjrab Pass restarts after three years

Islamabad: After about three years, close friends Pakistan and China opened gates for trade through Khunjrab Pass.

This is the only land route between the two countries and both countries have agreed to reopen the border after almost three years of suspension due to the COVID-19 outbreak to facilitate the local traders.

The all-weather friends have chalked out details for bilateral trade and other activities as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The pass was shut down for all trade activities in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, it was briefly opened to allow imports from China, but despite a decrease in cases and the revival of trading activities globally, the border stayed sealed.

Pakistani Foreign Office has confirmed that the Khunjerab Border between Islamabad and Beijing is to be reopened in two stages. Imports from China have already resumed, with the second phase allowing exports from Pakistan started on April 1.

Rana Mohammad Saleem Afzal, the Home Secretary of Gilgit Baltistan, said that officials of both sides had come to an agreement to reopen the Khunjerab Pass for trading and travel purposes starting Monday (April 3). The process of issuing border passes will begin shortly.

He mentioned that this was an extremely important move as it was the route for the CPEC and that the consignments from China would now enter Pakistan through Khunjerab Pass.