ISLAMABAD: After a four-month closure, the Pakistan-China Khunjarab border has reopened for bilateral trade and tourism.
Situated at an altitude of approximately 15,000 feet above sea level, the Khunjerab border serves as the sole land crossing linking Pakistan and China.
Per the protocol agreement established in 1985, the border shuts down for traffic from December 1 to March 31 due to heavy snowfall.
With the reopening, not only passenger vehicles but also goods transport has resumed in the border regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, Sust, and the Chinese city of Tashkurgan.
The revival of bilateral trade and tourism commences with the border’s reopening. The name “Khujarab Pass” originates from the local Wakhi language, where “Khun” signifies blood and “Jerab” refers to a creek originating from a spring or waterfall.
In November of the previous year, the management of Khunjerab Port in China’s Xinjiang region issued a notice announcing the closure of the pass from December to March.
According to the “Port Entry and Exit Management Measures,” both nations must amend and sign the agreement on border ports and management systems through diplomatic channels to keep the Khunjerab Pass operational year-round.
This pass, connecting Gilgit-Baltistan with China’s Xinjiang region, has been reopened after being closed for nearly three years since April 2023.
