Following the approval from the federal government, Bus service between Pakistan and China will be restored after 14 years.
The Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO) has officially received approval from the Federal Ministry of Communications to resume its bus service between Gilgit and Kashgar, China, after a 14-year hiatus.
This cross-border bus service was suspended in 2010 due to a natural disaster that disrupted the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
The suspension was caused by a massive landslide that led to the formation of Attabad Lake, submerging a 14-kilometer section of the highway.
The resumption of this vital transport route is a collaborative effort between NATCO, a government-owned company in Gilgit-Baltistan, and Xinjiang-Kashgar Xin Lu Transportation Co Ltd, a Chinese transportation company. The restored bus service is expected to enhance connectivity between Pakistan and China, boosting tourism and trade in the region.
This development comes under the broader umbrella of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), further strengthening ties between the two neighboring nations.
On September 30, 2024, the Ministry of Communications issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC), giving NATCO the go-ahead to sign an agreement with its Chinese counterpart to restart the service.
According to NATCO spokesperson Ehsan Shah, the bus service is expected to be launched before the seasonal closure of the Khunjerab Pass in December. Shah mentioned that some modifications to the 2006 agreement are being worked on, and a formal signing ceremony is anticipated in the coming weeks.
