After a four-month hiatus due to winter conditions, the border connecting Pakistan and China has been reinstated for both tourism and trade purposes. This development paves the way for enhanced business opportunities and a boost in tourism between the two nations.
Traditionally, the border undergoes closure from December 1 to March 31 annually, attributed to severe winter temperatures and substantial snowfall. With its reopening, expectations are high for a surge in trade and tourism activities.
Despite the temporary halt in certain operations during the closure period, the transportation of critical goods linked to Pakistan's development initiatives continued to flow seamlessly across the border.
The revival of the Khunjerab border has kick-started transport activities within Gilgit-Baltistan and the Chinese locality of Tashghargan, heralding a positive phase for trade and bilateral connections between Pakistan and China.
The decision to close the Khunjerab Pass during the winter months had previously been communicated by the Chinese authorities. Now reopened, this pass serves as a conduit between China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan, underpinning the enduring ties between the two regions.
Governed by a border accord concluded in 1985, the Khunjerab Pass holds the distinction of being the highest paved international frontier, situated at an elevation of 15,500 feet above sea level. It facilitates travel and commerce from April to November each year, fostering socio-economic exchanges between the adjacent areas.
