Pak-China Bus Route is Now Operational After 14 Years
Gilgit-China Bus Route is Now Operational After 14 Years
Pak-China bus service stopped in 2010 when a big landslide created in Attabad Lake and cut off a 14-kilometer section of the Karakoram Highway (KKH). This accident stops a main border crossing between Xinjiang, China, and Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. The Federal Ministry of Communications gives permission after 14 years to the Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO) to restart the bus route between Kashgar, China, and Gilgit, Pakistan.
Pak-China Collaboration Between NATCO and Chinese Counterparts
The restart of this important bus service is an effort between NATCO, a government transportation company in Gilgit-Baltistan, and Xinjiang Chinese bus company. This renewed service is going to improve connections between Pakistan and China, also help to strengthen economic relationships, increase tourism, and make cross border trade easier
Pak-China Role of CPEC in the Service Restoration
The decision to restart the Gilgit to Kashgar bus service is part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which have aims to improve economic and trade relations between the two countries. The bus service can resume because the Ministry of Communications gave a No Objection Certificate (NOC) on September 30, 2024, also allowing NATCO to sign an agreement with the Chinese company. This decision follows agreements made during the Second Meeting of the Xinjiang Pakistan Economic and Trade Cooperation Working Group. The Ministry also asked NATCO to send the final agreement for the official records.
Launch of Bus Service Expected Before Winter
NATCO spokesperson Ehsan Shah said that the bus service is expected to start before the Khunjerab Pass closes for the season in December. He also says that changes to the 2006 agreement are being made, and a formal signing ceremony is going to plan for the next few weeks. resuming the Gilgit Kashgar bus route is an important step for the beautiful Gilgit Baltistan region, as it will reconnect it with Kashgar, a key trade center in Xinjiang, China.
Boost to Tourism and Trade in the Region
This development not only holds promise for enhancing tourism in the breathtaking Gilgit-Baltistan area but also represents a critical step toward bolstering trade and economic activity between Pakistan and China, reinforcing their strategic partnership under CPEC.
