Pakistan and China sign deal for green channel on farm goods at Khunjerab

Pakistan and China have signed an agreement to operationalize a green channel for agricultural and allied products at the Sost-Khunjerab border crossing. The aim is to speed up bilateral trade and reduce delays in the movement of goods, according to Minute Mirror.

An online signing ceremony between the customs administrations of the two countries was held on Oct 29 at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Headquarters in Islamabad, Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Pakistan's delegation was led by Syed Shakeel Shah, Member Customs (Operations). According to Minute Mirror, the Chinese side was headed by Li Qinghua, deputy head of Urumqi Customs and director of Tashkurgan Customs.

Under the agreement, consignments of mutually agreed agricultural products will receive priority processing and examination at the border. Perishable goods will get priority handling to minimise delays. The system will continue to follow risk-based customs controls.

The agreement also provides for better information sharing and the exchange of risk alerts between the two customs authorities, according to Minute Mirror and 24 News.

Pakistan's delegation included the chief collector of customs for 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 it.

Minute Mirror said that under a 1985 border protocol the Sost-Khunjerab crossing generally stays open for travel and trade from April to November. The Khunjerab Pass links Gilgit-Baltistan with China's Xinjiang region and lies about 15,500 feet above sea level.

The outlet also reported that last year customs authorities collected Rs15 billion in revenue from imports arriving from China through the pass, a record. Exports worth Rs2.8 billion went through the crossing to China and Central Asian countries.