Khunjerab Pass to reopen from Monday for Pakistan-China trade after 3 years of closure

Dubai News

The iconic border crossing between Pakistan and China at the Khunjerab Pass is set to reopen from Monday after being closed for almost three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, DubaiNews.tv has learnt.

All arrangements have been made for the reopening of the mountain pass, which sits at an altitude of 4,693 metres that closed in 2019 to prevent the spread of the pandemic. The closure caused significant financial difficulties for the local business community and left thousands of workers without jobs.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his pleasure over the reopening of the Khunjerab Pass, saying it would help increase bilateral trade between Pakistan and China. Taking to his twitter handle, the prime minister said, “Reopening of Khunjrab Pass is critical to accelerating trade between Pakistan and China. The government is determined to unpack the full potential of CPEC by making it the centerpiece of our economic diplomacy for region. Trade & connectivity are the building blocks of prosperity.”

The Khunjrab Pass reopening will allow for trade and travel activities between the two countries. All necessary arrangements have been finalized on both sides, and the route connecting Pakistan’s Gilgit Baltistan and China’s Xinjiang Ugur will remain open for mutual trade from April to November every year. The pass will be closed from December 1 to March 31 due to cold weather and a lack of oxygen at high altitudes.

The reopening of the pass is a significant development for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as it will remove a hurdle and expedite the pace of work on the project. The CPEC is a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and is expected to bring significant economic benefits to Pakistan. The first trade activity under the CPEC had started via the Karakoram Highway in November 2016, but the closure of the Khunjerab Pass in November 2019 had halted trade between the two countries.

The federal government has been working to revive CPEC activities, and the reopening of the Khunjerab Pass is a positive step toward this goal. The smooth customs clearance of urgently-needed supplies will also be ensured with the reopening of the pass.

Despite difficulties such as extremely cold weather, heavy snow, and a lack of oxygen, local customs officials have worked round the clock to ensure the transportation of cargo. The pass was temporarily opened twice earlier this year to facilitate the smooth transportation of goods. The two temporary openings facilitated 128 cross-border personnel visits, 328 transportation vehicles passes, and the export of more than 6,000 tonnes of goods.

The reopening of the Khunjerab Pass is expected to increase the volume of trade between China and Pakistan, and all necessary arrangements have been finalized for normal trade at the Sost Dry Port. The prolonged closure of the pass had caused immense financial hardships, but the reopening of the pass is expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy and create job opportunities for thousands of workers.