Khunjerab Pass transitions to full-year operation, strengthening Sino-Pak trade links

Khunjerab Pass in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which is the only land port between China and Pakistan, has officially transitioned from seasonal access service to the full-year service starting from Sunday, according to the customs of the port, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency on Sunday.

The port is located in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Kashgar, which is in the core area of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, according to the report.

Previously, the port opened from April to November and closed from December to March each year due to its high altitude and the impact of snow and ice, according to Xinhua.

Since April 1 this year, traffic at the port has gradually increased, with more than 50,000 passenger trips through the port so far, according to the report.

By the end of October, the customs in Khunjerab supervised more than 11,000 inbound and outbound vehicles and 40,900 tons of goods.

It shows a year-on-year increase of 42.6 percent and 72.7 percent, respectively, demonstrating a clear growth trend, as reported by Xinhua.

Located approximately 5,000 meters above sea level, the Khunjerab Pass serves not only as a major trade station between China and Pakistan but also an important gateway to South Asia and Europe.

China imports mainly textiles, agricultural products and daily commodities at the port, and exports plants and herbs, according to Xinhua.

The import and export cargo volume at the Khunjerab Pass exceeded 200,000 tons from 2016 to 2020, according to the Khunjerab customs.

During the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2023, China and Pakistan issued a joint press statement announcing that the Khunjerab pass will function all year round, according to Xinhua.

The action is set to play an important role in promoting Sino-Pakistani economic and cultural exchanges, according to the report by Xinhua.