GB lawmakers demand Khunjerab Pass reopening for trade.

Byline: Jamil Nagri

GILGIT -- The opposition and treasury members in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly on Thursday demanded the reopening of Khunjerab Pass on the Pakistan-China border for trade.

During an assembly session chaired by Speaker Fida Mohammed Nashad here, the lawmakers said the border reopening would facilitate the delivery of medical equipment for Covid-19 patients from China to Pakistan.

Javed Hussain of the Pakistan Peoples Party said on a calling attention notice that the Covid-19 pandemic had badly hit economies across the world.

He said the Khunjerab Pass was closed in Dec and reopened in April every year for Pak-Sino trade and travel but the border wasn't opened last month due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Say situation improving in region, China

The lawmaker said hundreds of Chinese containers loaded with goods and bound for Pakistan were stranded in China and thousands of Pakistani traders had financial problems due to the border closure.

'Now when the Covid-19 situation in China and GB is improving, the GB government should take appropriate steps to reopen the border,' he said.

Mr Javed said the Khunjerab Pass was opened in Feb this year for the transportation of the coronavirus-related medical supplies donated by China.

He demanded the early reopening of the border to address the problems of GB traders.

Law minister Aurangzeb Khan told the house that the federal government should order the Khunjerab Pass reopening for trade after developing and enforcing standard operating procedure in line with the World Health Organisation's guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Deputy Speaker Jaffarullah Khan supported the call and...