GILGIT: The Khunjerab Pass, a key land border crossing between Pakistan and China at Khunjerab, is being reopened for trade activities from April 1, according to an official notification.
The Pass was once closed to contain coronavirus transmission between the two countries. Right now relevant parties are making efforts to green-light customs clearance, hoping to drive up cross-border trade and business in the post COVID-19 era.
Khunjerab Port is the only land port linking Pakistan and China. Khunjerab Pass on the Pakistan-China border is a strategic point on the Karakoram Highway, which links Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
The Pass usually remains open from April 1 to November 30 every year, and remains closed from December 1 to March 31 of the following year because of cold weather and lack of oxygen at a high altitude.
It is pertinent to mention that Khunjerab Pass is temporarily open twice earlier this year to transport goods from China to Pakistan. The two temporary openings have facilitated 128 cross-border personnel visits, 328 vehicles’ passes and more than 6,000 tons of goods exportation.
Meanwhile, “In 2022, Pakistan’s trade with the YRD region exceeded USD 11 billion.
Within the YRD region, the Zhejiang province, in which the Yiwu city is located, is Pakistan’s largest trading partner, and contributes USD 6.7 billion to bilateral trade. An immense potential for further increasing bilateral trade volume exists and can be tapped into by concerted efforts of govts and businesses,” highlighted Hussain Haider, Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai.
Addressing a webinar between the Consulate General of Pakistan in Shanghai and the People’s Government of Yiwu yesterday, the CG described Yiwu as a gateway for exportable products of Pakistan. –Agencies
