ISLAMABAD: 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. The ministry’s letter emphasized that the decision aligns with the agreements made during the Second Meeting of the Xinjiang-Pakistan Economic and Trade Cooperation Working Group. The ministry also instructed NATCO to submit the final agreement for official record-keeping.
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.
The reintroduction of the Gilgit-Kashgar bus service will reconnect the scenic Gilgit-Baltistan region with Kashgar, a major trade hub in Xinjiang, China.
In 2023, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan(GB) achieved a major breakthrough in bridging gaps between the two regions by launching direct bus service on the eve of the historic ‘Pakistan Day’ celebrated.
Former AJK prime minister and former GB chief minister inaugurated the Gilgit-Muzaffarabad Bus Service at a grand ceremony hosted in AJK State metropolis to facilitate commuters of both the regions.
The service has been started by the joint efforts of the AJK and GB governments which will restore historical relations and harmony between the people of the two regions. Cultural, social, regional linkages, industry, and tourism will also be promoted through this initiative.
Addressing the ceremony, they said, “Today is a very important day for the Muslims of the Indian sub-continent as the ‘Pakistan Resolution’ had passed this day in 1940. It is historic that the two regions were going to be restored.”
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