The Khunjerab Pass, a key border crossing between Pakistan and China, is set to reopen for trade activities on April 1st. The decision comes after the pass was closed as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Gilgit-Baltistan authorities had stopped two shipping containers carrying goods from entering Pakistan through the Khunjerab Pass in January 2020 while requesting the federal government to delay the reopening of the border crossing for trade.
However, with the recent decline in positivity rates and the ongoing vaccination efforts, relevant authorities are now making efforts to green-light customs clearance, hoping to drive up cross-border trade and business in the post-COVID-19 era. It is important to note that the Khunjerab Port is the only land port linking Pakistan and China and a strategic point on the Karakoram Highway, linking Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, and Xinjiang Ugur Autonomous Region, China.
The pass usually remains open from April 1st to November 30th every year and remains closed from December 1st to March 31st owing to the weather conditions imposed by harsh winters and lack of oxygen at high altitudes. Despite the closure, Khujerab Pass was temporarily opened twice earlier this year to allow the transport of goods from China to Pakistan. The two temporary openings have facilitated 128 cross-border personnel visits, 328 vehicular passes, and more than 6,000 tons of good exportation.
In 2019, prior to COVID-19-induced shutdowns, trade volume between China and Pakistan had surged by nearly 47% to $856.3 million at the Khunjerab Pass. With the reopening of the pass for trade activities, both Pakistan and China can look forward to boosting bilateral trade and economic activities, which is expected to contribute positively towards the growth and development of both countries.
