Pakistan and China have signed an agreement to operationalise a dedicated green channel at the Sost-Khunjerab border crossing, introducing priority customs processing for agricultural and allied products to facilitate bilateral trade. The arrangement is intended to improve the movement of eligible consignments between the two countries by reducing unnecessary processing delays while maintaining customs inspections based on identified risks. The initiative will establish a more coordinated clearance mechanism for an agreed list of agricultural products, with particular attention to perishable goods that require timely transportation. The agreement represents another step towards strengthening trade cooperation between Pakistan and China and improving the efficiency of cross-border commercial activities through the strategically important Khunjerab route.
The agreement was signed online on Thursday between the customs administrations of Pakistan and China at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Pakistan’s delegation was led by Member Customs (Operations) Syed Shakeel Shah, while the Chinese side was headed by Li Qinghua, Deputy Head of Urumqi Customs and Director of Tashkurgan Customs. According to the official announcement, the agreement establishes the framework for a green channel covering mutually agreed agricultural products. Under this arrangement, eligible shipments will receive priority processing and examination, allowing customs authorities to facilitate trade without removing the risk assessment procedures required for border security and regulatory compliance. The initiative is expected to improve coordination between customs officials and create a more predictable clearance process for businesses involved in agricultural exports and imports.
A key component of the agreement is the introduction of enhanced information sharing between the customs administrations of both countries. The two sides will exchange relevant trade information and risk alerts to improve coordination, identify potential concerns and strengthen the management of cross-border shipments. Sharing information about consignments and associated risks is expected to help customs authorities prepare for incoming goods and make more informed decisions during the clearance process. Rather than applying identical inspection procedures to every shipment, the risk-based approach will allow officials to prioritise consignments according to established assessment requirements. This mechanism is intended to support trade facilitation while ensuring that customs controls remain in place.
The agreement also places particular emphasis on the movement of perishable agricultural products, for which delays at border crossings can create additional transportation costs and affect the quality of goods. Under the green channel arrangement, eligible perishable consignments will receive priority handling to minimise waiting periods and support timely transportation across the border. Faster processing could benefit traders dealing in agricultural commodities and other temperature-sensitive or time-dependent products. By improving the handling of such shipments, Pakistan and China aim to make cross-border agricultural trade more efficient while reducing the operational difficulties associated with extended customs clearance procedures.
Pakistan’s delegation included senior officials from several departments and institutions involved in customs administration, agricultural regulation and international trade. Participants included the Chief Collector of Customs, 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 the delegation. Their participation reflects the involvement of multiple government institutions in implementing the arrangement, as agricultural shipments require coordination across customs, trade facilitation and plant protection authorities. The participation of Pakistan Single Window also highlights the importance of digital trade-related coordination in supporting more efficient cross-border procedures.
The Sost-Khunjerab crossing holds strategic importance because it connects Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region with China’s Xinjiang region through the Karakoram Highway. Located approximately 15,500 feet above sea level, Khunjerab Pass is recognised as the world’s highest paved international border crossing. Its geographical location makes it an important route for trade and transportation between the two countries, although weather conditions significantly influence its operations. Under the border protocol agreement signed by Pakistan and China in 1985, the pass remains open for travel and trade between April and November each year. During winter, heavy snowfall creates difficult conditions that restrict transportation and disrupt normal commercial movement across the border.
The route has also generated significant customs revenue through bilateral trade. During the previous year, Pakistan Customs collected Rs15 billion in revenue from imports arriving from China through the Khunjerab Pass, setting a new record. In addition, goods valued at Rs2.8 billion were exported to China and Central Asian countries through the border crossing. These figures demonstrate the commercial importance of the route and its contribution to Pakistan’s trade activity. The introduction of the green channel could further support this trade by improving the handling of eligible agricultural shipments and reducing delays associated with border clearance.
The operationalisation of the green channel is expected to strengthen customs cooperation and provide exporters and importers with a more efficient mechanism for transporting agricultural and allied products. Its success will depend on effective coordination between the relevant authorities, timely information exchange and the implementation of agreed risk management procedures. By introducing priority processing for eligible consignments while retaining regulatory safeguards, Pakistan and China are seeking to improve the reliability of the Sost-Khunjerab trade route and expand opportunities for agricultural commerce between the neighbouring countries.
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