Pak-china border: Border pass fee reduced

Reduction in fee of border pass to China from Rs2,500 to Rs1,500.

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government has decided to reduce the fee of the border pass to China from Rs2,500 to Rs1,500, officials said on Thursday.

“The decision was taken today in a meeting chaired by the G-B’s home department,” said an official, adding that the members of the G-B Chamber of Commerce Industries attended the meeting.

Pakistan’s border with china opens on May 1 every year after remaining closed for five months during winters due to heavy snowfall in the mountainous region.

“The lessened fee for border passes will ease visits of tourists and traders from Pakistan into China,” he said.

A handout issued on Thursday said the policy to issue border passes for the employees of Northern Area Transport Corporation, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, local traders, tourists intending to travel across the borders was reduced.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2011.