After over three years of shutdown due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Khunjerab Pass, an important commercial trade route between Pakistan and China, reopened on Tuesday, April 2.
In the year 2020, due to the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak, the pass that links Gilgit-Baltistan with China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region was closed.
A letter requesting the reopening of the trade pass was reportedly sent from the Chinese government to the Pakistani government.
Chinese police at Khunjerab Pass have been told to prepare for the entrance of Pakistani commodities by taking appropriate precautions against Covid-19. Border officials in Pakistan have received similar orders to prevent the spread of Covid-19 within their country.
It’s worth noting that Khunjerab Pass is often closed from December 1 to March 31 each year due to the cold weather and poor oxygen levels at such a high altitude.
The trade route was opened twice in this year
Nonetheless, the trade route was temporarily opened twice earlier this year to facilitate the customs clearance of Pakistan’s desperately required and other goods.
The local customs have worked around the clock to assure the passage of trading cargo despite obstacles including extremely cold weather, heavy snow, and a shortage of oxygen.
This year, the first trade route opened on January 19 and stayed open temporarily until February 10. The last temporary opening was on January 30 and lasted for 12 days, ending on February 10.
According to the foreign affairs office of the Kashgar prefecture, the two temporary openings allowed for the passage of 328 transportation vehicles and the export of more than 6,000 tonnes of commodities. The reopening of the border crossing is expected to stimulate business between the two nations.
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