ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s commerce chief, Abdul Razak Dawood, said on Wednesday trade with China had been temporarily resumed through Khunjerab Pass, a border outpost on the Karakoram Highway in the glacier-strewn Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Pakistan shut all its land borders in March to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19. Khunjerab pass is in a strategic location on the northern border of Pakistan and on the southwest border of China’s Xinjiang province.
“I am pleased to see that trade with China through Khunjerab Pass has resumed temporarily,” Dawood said in a Twitter post. “The opening of border was a longstanding demand of the businessmen, particularly from Gilgit Baltistan region, which remained closed due to Covid-19.”
Dawood added the ministry of commerce team “must be appreciated for their hard work in resolving this issue in consultation with Chinese authorities and other stakeholders.”
I am pleased to see that trade with China through Khunjerab Pass has resumed temporarily. The opening of border was a longstanding demand of the businessmen, particularly from Gilgit Baltistan region, which remained closed due to Covid-19. 1/2
— Abdul Razak Dawood (@razak_dawood) August 5, 2020
Last month, Pakistan also restored trade operations with Afghanistan at five border terminals — Chaman, Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Angor Adda and Kharlachi — after closing them in mid-March over coronavirus fears.
The Wagah border crossing with India was also opened last month to allow Afghan exports to pass through.