NATCO set to resume Gilgit-Kashgar bus service after 14-year hiatus

GILGIT: The Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO) has received the green light from the federal ministry of communications to restart its bus service between Gilgit and Kashgar, China, after a 14-year suspension.

The service, once operational, will be a collaborative effort between NATCO, a Gilgit-Baltistan government-owned enterprise, and Xinjiang-Kashgar Xin Lu Transportation Co Ltd, a Chinese transportation company.

The resumption of this vital transport link, disrupted since 2010 following the Attabad Lake disaster, is a significant development for cross-border connectivity between Pakistan and China. The bus service was halted when a 14-kilometer stretch of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) was submerged due to a massive landslide, which resulted in the formation of Attabad Lake.

In a letter dated September 30, 2024, the Ministry of Communications officially granted NATCO a No Objection Certificate (NOC), authorizing the company to proceed with signing an agreement with the Chinese counterpart.

“The ministry of communications has no objection to signing the agreement with the Chinese counterpart company for the start of bus service on the Gilgit-Kashgar route, as it is in line with the decision of the Second Meeting of Xinjiang-Pakistan Economic and Trade Cooperation Working Group,” the letter stated. It further instructed NATCO to submit a copy of the finalized agreement to the ministry for record-keeping purposes.

NATCO spokesperson Ehsan Shah talking to HUM News English expressed optimism about the resumption of the bus service. He revealed that efforts were being made to launch the service before the seasonal closure of the Khunjerab Pass in December. “We are working on some modifications to the 2006 agreement, and we anticipate a formal signing ceremony in the coming weeks,” Shah said.

The reintroduction of the Gilgit-Kashgar bus service is expected to boost tourism and trade between Pakistan and China, strengthening ties between the two neighbouring countries under the umbrella of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The service, once restored, will reconnect the scenic region of Gilgit-Baltistan with Kashgar, a significant trade hub in Xinjiang, China, and facilitate smoother travel for both locals and tourists alike.