Pakistan-China trade via overland routes to further strengthen all-weather strategic cooperative partnership: FM Bilawal Bhutto

Islamabad: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that enhancing Pakistan-China trade via overland routes will further strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

In a tweet, he maintained that this will also advance “our shared vision for regional connectivity.”

The Foreign Minister expressed his pleasure over Pakistani products reaching Chinese consumers through Khunjerab border.

Earlier, Ambassador of Pakistan to China Moinul Haque had said that facilitating trade and exports of Pakistan’s high-quality products through Khunjerab border was Pakistan and China’s shared objective. “We are working together to bring more Pakistani seafood and agro products through this land route to Chinese market,” he tweeted.

The Khunjerab Pass, a major trade route between Pakistan and China, was reopened recently after a closure of almost three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pass connects Gilgit-Baltistan with China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region and was closed in 2020 following the outbreak of Covid-19.

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

But to ensure the smooth customs clearance of Pakistan’s urgently-needed and other supplies, the port was temporarily opened twice early this year.

Despite difficulties including extremely cold weather, heavy snow and lack of oxygen, the local customs have worked round the clock to ensure the transportation of cargo.

This year, the last temporary opening lasted for 12 days between January 30 and February 10 while the first port opening was between January 19 and 20.

The two temporary openings facilitated 128 cross-border personnel visits, 328 transportation vehicles’ passes, and more than 6,000 tonnes of goods exported.

The reopening of the border crossing is expected to boost economic activities between the two countries.