Pak leadership welcomes restoration of trade, travel at Khunjerab Pass

GILGIT, Apr. 4 (Gwadar Pro) - The Pakistani leadership warmly welcomed the restoration of Pak-Sino trade and travel at the Khunjerab Pass, calling it a significant development.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his pleasure over the reopening of the Khunjerab Pass, saying it would increase bilateral trade between Pakistan and China.

“The reopening of the Pass removes a hurdle and would further expedite the pace of work on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” he said.

The prime minister appreciated relevant authorities of the two countries for the restoration of trade and travel.

Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal also expressed deep satisfaction and pleasure over the reopening of the Pass, which is the highest paved international border crossing in the world, connecting Pakistan and China.

The Minister said, "the Pass is not just a symbol of the historical and cultural ties between our nations, but  also presents a unique opportunity to promote economic, trade, and tourism activities between our countries and beyond."

"With the reopening of the border after a gap of three years, increased trade volumes, more investment opportunities, and improved people-to-people contacts will usher in a new era of regional connectivity and higher prosperity for the masses of both nations," he added.

He said, "we are committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure the smooth flow of goods and people across the border, while also maintaining stringent security measures to ensure safety."

The minister further added, "I am confident that the reopening will contribute significantly to the trade and economic activities and strengthen our ties of friendship and cooperation for years to come."

Khunjerab Pass on the China-Pakistan border is a strategic point on the Karakoram Highway, which links Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

According to official sources, the Chinese authorities have shared a letter with Pakistani officials regarding the reopening of the pass for trade.

It may be mentioned here that as a result of cold weather and lack of oxygen at the high altitude, the Khunjerab Pass generally opens from April 1 to November 30 every year, and remains closed from December 1 to March 31 of the following year.

But to ensure the smooth customs clearance of Pakistan’s urgently needed and other supplies, the port was temporarily opened twice earlier this year.

The two temporary openings facilitated 128 cross-border personnel visits, 328 transportation vehicles, and more than 6,000 tons of goods exported, as per the foreign affairs office of Kashgar prefecture.