An agreement to activate a green channel for agricultural and related goods at the Sost-Khunjerab border was finalized by Pakistan and China to ease two-way commerce.
On Thursday, customs officials from both nations executed the deal virtually at the Federal Board of Revenue. Syed Shakeel Shah, who serves as Member Customs Operations, headed the team from Pakistan. Representing the Chinese side, Li Qinghua acted as deputy head of Urumqi Customs and director of Tashkurgan Customs.
Based on the accord, approved shipments of designated farm goods will get fast-track processing and inspection while maintaining risk-based customs checks. Perishable loads will likewise get priority treatment to cut down wait times and guarantee fast transit across the frontier.
Both customs authorities will additionally boost data sharing and swap risk warnings to boost cooperation and better handle cross-border commerce.
Other members of the Pakistani team featured the chief collector of customs in Peshawar, the collector of customs for Gilgit-Baltistan, delegates from the Department of Plant Protection, NAFSA, Pakistan Single Window, and the Ministry of Commerce, along with the commercial counsellor stationed at the Pakistan embassy in China.
The green channel should boost farm trade speed and tighten customs ties between the nations.
Standing at 15,500 feet above sea level, the Khunjerab Pass links Gilgit-Baltistan to China's Xinjiang area, serving as the highest paved international border crossing. Per the 1985 border protocol pact, the crossing stays open for movement and commerce from April through November, while heavy snow blocks travel and trade during winter months.
During the previous year, Pakistan Customs brought in a record Rs15 billion in revenue from Chinese imports via the border. Merchandise valued at Rs2.8 billion was additionally shipped out to China and Central Asian nations through the same route.
