The Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Dr Ahsan Iqbal, has announced that the government is working to restore the bus service between China and Pakistan through the Khunjerab Pass. The aim of this move is to provide a more affordable means of transportation to Pakistani students studying in China. 

In an interview with APP on Tuesday, the minister stated that the Pakistani authorities have requested their Chinese counterparts to resume the bus service via this route.

He also expressed his excitement about the reopening of the Khunjerab Pass on April 3, after being closed for three years. The minister described this as a positive development between the two countries, which are all-weather friends. He expressed confidence that the resumption of trade between Pakistan and China would take place through the land route.

The minister hopes that both Pakistan and China will upgrade the Khunjerab border facility so that it can remain open for 12 months, and become an all-weather facility. Regarding the impact of the reopening of the border crossing on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and bilateral trade, he said it would be good news for the CPEC projects. The reopening of the border crossing would also benefit Pakistan-China bilateral trade, business, and particularly people in Gilgit-Baltistan, who would greatly benefit from local trade through this border post.