After nearly three years, the Khunjerab Pass linking Pakistan and China is set to reopen on Monday for all types of traffic, following the completion of all necessary arrangements and round-the-clock efforts by local customs to ensure the smooth transportation of cargo. The pass, a major trade route between the two countries, was closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, Home Secretary Gilgit Baltistan Rana Muhammad Saleem Afzal confirmed that the pass will open from Monday. On Sunday, the Deputy Commissioner Hunza visited the Khunjerab site to inspect the zero point, where heavy machinery from the Frontier Works Organization is clearing snow from the roadside to reopen the pass.
The closure of the Khunjerab Border had caused significant financial hardships for the local business community, with many workers losing their jobs. The protocol signed between Pakistan and China allows trade and travel activities between the two countries through the Khunjerab pass from 1st April to 30th November every year. Earlier this year, the port was temporarily opened twice to ensure the smooth customs clearance of Pakistan’s urgently needed supplies, resulting in 128 cross-border personnel visits, 328 transportation vehicles’ passes, and more than 6,000 tons of goods exported.
