Khunjerab border reopens after four-month closure

GILGIT: After a scheduled four-month hiatus due to severe winter conditions, the Pakistan-China Khunjerab border, recognized as the world’s highest paved international border, officially reopened for bilateral trade and tourism on Monday.

In adherence to the 1985 border protocol agreement between Pakistan and China, the pass operates for travel and trade from April through November each year. To commemorate the reopening, the Hunza Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a ceremonial event at the Silk Route Dry Port in Sost, Gojal Hunza. The event featured an opening and flag hoisting ceremony, symbolizing the reestablishment of the trade and tourism link between the two countries.

Notable attendees included Javed Hussain, a former member of the Gilgit Assembly; Muhammad Baqir, a former provincial minister; and Muhammad Ali Akhtar, a former provincial finance minister. The ceremony attracted a significant number of businessmen from across the nation, including many from Gilgit-Baltistan, underlining the economic importance of the border’s reopening.

Following the ceremonial reopening event, the border saw immediate activity with 15 containers loaded with commercial goods entering Pakistan from China on the first day. In 2023, over a span of six months, more than 400 containers had passed through the Khunjerab border into Pakistan, generating a substantial revenue of Rs5.45 billion in customs duties for the government.

Situated on the Karakoram Highway, the Khunjerab Pass holds a strategic position, serving as the sole land port that connects Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region with the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Beyond facilitating trade, it also plays a pivotal role in promoting tourism between the two countries.

While the pass customarily operates from April 1 to November 30 annually, it closes from December 1 to March 31 due to challenging winter weather conditions and reduced oxygen levels at the high altitude. It’s noteworthy that the Khunjerab Pass was briefly opened for a period of 14 days on January 2, following a special request by Pakistani authorities, underscoring the route’s significance for bilateral relations between Pakistan and China.