Coronavirus Threat: Khunjerab Pass to remain closed till April 2020

The government of Gilgit Baltistan has announced on Thursday that the Khunjerab Pass, the highest border crossing point between the two neighbors Pakistan and China, will remain closed till April.

Amid the threat of the spread of deadly Coronavirus threat the proposed reopening of the Pak-China border in February, has been reportedly withdrawn.

According to a spokesperson of the GB government, the recommendation to open the route in the mid of April has been tabled.

Under the border protocol agreement 1985, Khunjerab border crossing remains open from the end of November to April next year. Trade and travel activities between the two countries take place through Khunjerab Pass.

As being reported, on Jan 22, the federal ministry of foreign affairs through a letter had requested the Chinese government to open Khunjerab Pass from Feb 2 to Feb 8 this year to facilitate entry of over 200 Chinese containers from the Xinjiang province of China to Pakistan.

Earlier, an official of the Gilgit-Baltistan health department while talking to the news outlet on Tuesday said that all preventative measures were being taken to contain the infectious disease.

Furthermore, the GB health department has recommended the deployment of medical staff to the border to check the disease and isolate patients and refer them for treatment.