Khunjerab Pass

GILGIT: The Chinese government, after initially agreeing to keep Khunjerab Pass open year-round, has now announced its closure for four months in winter. According to a notice from China’s Xinjiang region, issued by the Khunjerab Port management on Saturday, the pass will be closed from December to March.

This decision contradicts the October 20 joint press statement following caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The statement initially declared the pass operational throughout the year.

The notice states that to ensure year-round access, both countries must amend and sign the agreement on border ports and management systems through diplomatic channels.

Until an official notice is issued by China’s State Port Management Office, Khunjerab Port will follow the seasonal mode of customs clearance, closing from December to March.

The pass connects Gilgit-Baltistan with China’s Xinjiang region, functioning as the highest paved international border. Travel and trade through the pass are usually open between April and November under a 1985 border protocol agreement. Excessive snowfall in winter hampers travel, and recent snowfall has led to road closure, causing inconvenience to travelers.

Bilawal Extends Diwali Greetings to Pakistani Hindu Community

Meanwhile,

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari extends heartfelt congratulations to the Pakistani Hindu community and Diwali celebrants, expressing his best wishes for the festival of lights.

In his Diwali message, Bilawal emphasizes the symbolic significance of Diwali, representing light, joy, and the triumph of good over evil.

Underlining the PPP’s unwavering commitment to inter-faith tolerance, harmony, and equal rights for minorities, he highlights Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s role in enshrining these principles in the 1973 Constitution.