Khunjerab Pass temporarily reopened

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The land link between Pakistan and China, the Khunjerab Pass, was temporarily reopened early in August to facilitate flow of goods between the two countries. 

On August 4, four vehicles loaded with agricure products and one comprising anti-epidemic materials were allowed to cross through the Khunjerab Pass, which was closed because of COVID-19. 

Also a major tourist attraction, the Khunjerab Pass is a high mountain pass in the Karakoram mountains, in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan’s Gilgit–Baltistan's Hunza and Nagar districts and on the southwest border of China’s Xinjiang province. Its elevation is 4,693 metres or 15,397 feet.

China’s medical supplies arrive through Khunjerab Pass

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

China delivered medical supplies to Pakistan on March 27 through the Khunjerab Pass, which is recognized as the highest land port on earth.

In a tweet, the Chinese embassy declared that both sides braved the cold and prepared for the medical supplies which will help combat Coronavirus. 

Earlier China had requested Pakistan to open the border for a day in order to have the supplies transported into the country. 

Under a border protocol agreement of 1985, the Khunjerab border crossing remains closed from the end of November to April. 

The embassy of China in Islamabad was also reported to have requested the Pakistan authorities to make due preparation before the delivery so that all materials could enter Pakistan smoothly. 

According to the details shared by the Chinese embassy, two tons of supplies worth 67 million rupees included masks, test kits, ventilators and personal protection equipment. 

Xinjiang had also donated 100,000 masks to Pakistan earlier this month while Pakistan had also received assistance in the form of medical equipment carrying 450,000 face masks including 50,000 N-95 masks.