Pakistan and China have formalized a green channel at the Sost‑Khunjerab border, streamlining customs for agricultural products and tightening cross‑border trade cooperation.
Key Elements of the New Green Channel
- Online signing by customs officials from both countries, led by Pakistan’s Member Customs (Operations) Syed Shakeel Shah and China’s Li Qinghua.
- Priority processing for a pre‑approved list of perishable agricultural goods, reducing clearance times.
- Risk‑based controls paired with real‑time information sharing and alert exchanges between the two customs administrations.
- Enhanced coordination to keep the high‑altitude Khunjerab Pass open from April to November, mitigating winter delays.
Why Khunjerab Matters in Indo‑Pak Trade
The Khunjerab Pass, at 15,500 feet, is the highest paved international border and a critical artery for trade between Gilgit‑Baltistan and China’s Xinjiang. Since the 1985 border protocol, it has remained open seasonally, but heavy snowfall often stalls shipments. Last year, Pakistan Customs collected Rs15 billion in revenue from imports via Khunjerab, while Rs2.8 billion worth of goods flowed to China and Central Asia.
What This Means for the Future of Trade
The green channel is expected to cut clearance times, lower logistics costs, and encourage more farmers to export fresh produce. Strengthened data exchange will also improve risk assessment, potentially attracting new investors to the region’s agri‑sector. As both nations push for greater economic integration, the Khunjerab green corridor could become a model for other high‑altitude trade routes.