Stranded containers successfully transported from Khunjerab Pass

The National Logistics Cell (NLC) successfully managed transporting stranded containers from the Khunjerab Pass to the Silk Route Dryport Sost on Sunday in freezing temperatures ahead of schedule to avoid further losses to traders.

The containers got stranded due to the outbreak of Covid-19. For this purpose, the Khunjerab border was temporarily opened from December 15 to 25 to allow cross border movement of the containers. The border is usually closed from November 30th up until April 1st every year due to heavy snowfall in the area.

The transportation of the containers started from the Khunjerab Pass, upon opening of the border on December 15, as per the laid down Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The challenging task of managing the movement of the containers was made possible with the assistance of local administration and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO). All the containers were safely moved to the NLC dry port at Sost, despite slippery conditions caused by the snow and frosted roads.

The containers were said to be carrying machinery for hydel energy project, corona aid for education department of Gilgit Baltistan as well as trade consignments. The goods were de-stuffed at the pass at the NLC dry port for formal customs clearance. Empty containers are to be transported back to the Khunjerab Pass for taking over by the Chinese counterpart.

Earlier in August, Pak-China border crossing at Sost was temporarily re-opened to clear stranded trucks of Pakistani traders, said Prime Minister’s Advisor on Commerce and Industries Abdul Razak Dawood.

While talking to The Express Tribune, the PM’s aide said only the trucks stranded in China are allowed to cross the border, whereas human movement remains restricted.

“The border will close again soon after the arrival of trucks,” Dawood said. “Decision was taken to facilitate the traders whose containers were stuck due to the outbreak of Covid-19 in China.”