Pakistan, China sign deal to fast-track agricultural trade at Khunjerab border

Pakistan and China have agreed to introduce a green channel at the Sost-Khunjerab border crossing to speed up the movement of agricultural goods and other related products between the two countries.

The agreement was signed online on Thursday by the customs administrations of both countries at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Pakistan’s delegation was led by Member Customs (Operations) Syed Shakeel Shah, while Li Qinghua, deputy head of Urumqi Customs and director of Tashkurgan Customs, headed the Chinese side.

Under the arrangement, consignments of mutually agreed agricultural products will receive priority processing and examination, while customs authorities will continue to apply risk-based controls, according to an official announcement.

The two sides will also share more information and risk alerts to improve coordination and strengthen the management of cross-border trade. Perishable goods will receive priority handling to reduce delays and ensure they cross the border on time.

The Pakistani delegation included the chief collector of customs, Peshawar, the collector of customs for Gilgit-Baltistan and representatives of the Department of Plant Protection, NAFSA, Pakistan Single Window and the Ministry of Commerce. The commercial counsellor at Pakistan’s embassy in China was also part of the delegation.

The green channel is expected to make agricultural trade more efficient and strengthen cooperation between the customs authorities of the two countries.

The Khunjerab Pass links Gilgit-Baltistan with China’s Xinjiang region and stands about 15,500 feet above sea level, making it the world’s highest paved international border crossing. Under a border protocol signed in 1985, the pass remains open for travel and trade from April to November. Heavy snowfall disrupts cross-border movement during winter.