Khunjerab Pass reopens after three years, Pak-China trade resumes

The pass was closed after the outbreak of Covid-19

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The key trade route between Pakistan and China, the Khunjerab Pass, was reopened for Pak-China trade after a closure of almost three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

According to sources, the pass, which connects Gilgit-Baltistan with China's Xinjiang province, was closed in November 2019 due to the spread of Corona. Chinese authorities have sent a letter to Pakistani authorities regarding reopening the pass for trade.

Both countries have completed the arrangements for opening the Khunjerab Pass under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and after its reopening, the CPEC project and bilateral trade will accelerate expeditiously.

Due to the scarcity of oxygen in cold weather and high altitude, the Khunjerab Pass generally opens from April 1 to November 30 every year and remains closed from December 1 to March 31.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed his happiness over the reopening of the Khunjerab Pass and said that the revival of trade with our iron brother China is a good omen. The reopening of the Khunjerab Pass has removed another obstacle in the way of accelerating the pace of CPEC.

In a statement, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said he hoped that the reopening of trade routes would increase bilateral trade between Pakistan and China. The revival of trade routes in both countries after three years is a moment of great joy. The journey that was stopped in November 2019 has been restored in 2023. I want to accelerate CPEC at more than double speed from where we left, back in 2018, said the PM.

Shahbaz Sharif said that CPEC's is a blessing for the population of the region, provided by Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s and China's great leadership. However, a foreign funded person tried to make it controversial that tantamount to sow the seeds of hate in this historic partnership, but now we hope that CPEC will progress expeditiously.