ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have agreed to resume border trade from April 1 through the Khunjerab Pass after almost three years of suspension due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The only land route between Pakistan and China was shut down for all trade activities in 2020 due to the pandemic. Last year, it briefly opened to allow imports from China, but the border stayed sealed despite a decrease in cases and the revival of trading activities globally.
The reopening of the pass will facilitate local traders and is an important move as it is the route for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Trade to resume in two stages
The resumption of trade will take place in two stages, with imports from China already resumed and exports from Pakistan set to begin on April 3.
Rana Mohammad Saleem Afzal, the Home Secretary of Gilgit Baltistan, confirmed that officials of both sides had come to an agreement to reopen the Khunjerab Pass for trading and travel purposes. The process of issuing border passes will begin shortly.
