Pakistan-China border at mountainous Khunjerab pass opened for 10 days

This file photo taken on June 30, 2020. shows a general view of the Pakistan-China Khunjerab Pass. (AFP/File)
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Updated 15 December 2020
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Pakistan-China border at mountainous Khunjerab pass opened for 10 days

  • Border crossing opened to let through Pakistani containers stranded in China since December 2019 when the border closed for winter followed by the pandemic
  • Trade volumes through Khunjerab Pass increased by 1.4 times in 2019 and reached values upwards of $856 million

GILGIT: The Pakistan and China border at Khunjerab Pass opened on Tuesday to allow over two dozen Pakistani containers to cross over between December 15-25, state media reported, though traders are skeptical the ten-day respite will be enough to overcome losses.

At 5,000 meters above sea level, the border post is the highest paved international crossing in the world, a major trade route between China and Pakistan, and an important gateway to South Asia and Europe. China mainly imports textiles, agricultural products and daily commodities through the pass, and exports plants and herbs.

The border outpost on the Karakoram Highway usually remains open for trade and travel from May till November-end every year, after which it closes for almost five months in winter. But Pakistani containers have now been stranded in China since December 2019, when the border closed for the winter months, following which all frontiers, including Khunjerab, were indefinitely closed to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Pak-China border via Khunjerab Pass was opened on Tuesday for next ten days,” Radia Pakistan reported.

Zulqarnain Sewag, Assistant Commissioner Gojal of Hunza district, told Arab News the district administration had finalized security arrangements and preparations to receive the stranded containers over a ten-day period.

“Only loaded and stranded containers of traders and containers carrying hydro-power machinery of a power house of Hunza district will enter into Pakistan during these 10 days,” he said. “No container will go to China from Pakistan,” he added, saying all COVID-19 standard operating procedures would be strictly observed during the trade.

A December 10 notification issued by the foreign ministry and seen by Arab News said: “Chinese side has conveyed that they are considering opening the border from 15-25 December 2020. However, the border will be opened subject to the strict implementation of Covid-19 SOP’s.”

With the construction of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – a multi-billion-dollar project of which Gilgit-Baltistan is the entry point — Pakistan’s trade volumes through Khunjerab surged last year, but have remained static in 2020 due to the border’s yearlong closure.

China News Network reported in December 2019 that cargo import and export had reached 66,600 tons during 2019 at Khunjerab Pass in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, up 46.8 percent from the year before. Trade volumes increased by 1.4 times, and reached values upwards of $856 million during the same period.

But 2020 brought trade at the high border crossing to a near halt, and with winter temperatures dropping at that altitude, the movement of vehicles also became an added challenge.

“Businessmen related to Khunjerab Pass had to face huge losses due to closure of the border as many loaded containers have been stranded in China since December 2019,” Mehboob Rabbani, President of the Hunza Chamber of Commerce, told Arab News on Saturday. “We requested Pakistan’s higher authorities to open the border to provide relief to businessmen; however, they [both countries’ officials] took a huge time to make a decision.”

“Now the temperature at the border has dropped to minus 25 degrees [Celsius] and if the snowfall surges at the top, it could upset business activities during the ten days,” he added.

Traders have said hundreds of millions in losses have already been accrued.

“Since the pass closed, we are facing losses in business,” Hajji Abbas, a Nagar-based businessman who deals in the import and exports of dry fruit, told Arab News on Sunday. “I purchased dry fruits, including walnuts and almonds from China last year to bring into Pakistan. But they’ve been lying in different warehouses in China’s Kashgar. Now fresh fruits have also come into the market, so no one will buy old dry fruit.”

“We have faced losses of over Rs300 million till now,” Abbas said of his industry.

Some stakeholders and experts said the temporary opening of the border for ten days was not enough time to fix the problem, and commodities belonging to Pakistani traders worth billions of rupees were lying in China’s warehouses.

“Chinese authorities are not allowing to evacuate the warehouses of Pakistani traders,” Muhammad Ali Quaid, Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce Vice President, told Arab News on Saturday. “They are allowing only [already] loaded containers to cross the border during these 10 days.”

Additionally, he said Chinese transporters charged roughly the equivalent of $3,800 on regular days but with the border opening for only a short period of time, they had hiked up their rates to between $7000 to $15,000 per container.

“I had 13 loaded containers carrying garments and dry fruits from China last year. As lockdown started in China after COVID-19, only two of my containers reached Pakistan,” Shabbir Hussain, a Hunza-based businessman who owns an import-export business for garments and dry fruit, told Arab News on Sunday.

“I had to unload the containers to avoid fare charges, but unfortunately, owing to the long-time closure of the border, lots of dry fruits and red chillies decayed in warehouses.”

“Only loaded containers are allowed to cross the border in these 10 days,” Hussain added, saying the temporary opening of the pass for ten days was too short a time period to maximize benefits.


Pakistan says will engage with prominent Baloch rights movement provided no ‘ulterior motive’

Updated 27 February 2025
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Pakistan says will engage with prominent Baloch rights movement provided no ‘ulterior motive’

  • Baloch Yakjehti Committee has held multiple protests, marches to capital to highlight enforced disappearances in Balochistan
  • Military variously accuses rights movements like BYC of being “terrorist proxies,” says “disappeared” are linked to separatists

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government will engage with prominent Baloch rights activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch and her Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) movement provided it does not have an “ulterior motive,” the government’s spokesperson on legal affairs Aqeel Malik said this week. 

Baloch has been a fierce critic of Pakistan’s powerful military, whom rights activists, politicians and families blame for enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the impoverished, southwestern Balochistan province. Security forces deny this. 

The BYC, founded by Baloch in 2020, has organized several large protests in Balochistan and led marches to, and sit-ins in, the Pakistani federal capital, Islamabad, mainly against “enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings” which officials deny. 

The military has a huge presence in Balochistan bordering Afghanistan and Iran, where insurgent groups have been fighting for a separate homeland for decades to win a larger share of benefits for the resource-rich province. The army has long run intelligence-based operations against insurgent groups, who have escalated attacks in recent months on the military and nationals from longtime ally China, which is building key projects in the region, including a port at Gwadar.

International rights bodies like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as well as opposition political parties have also long highlighted enforced disappearances targeting students, activists, journalists and human rights defenders in Balochistan. The army says many of Balochistan’s so-called disappeared have links to separatists. Military spokespersons have also variously accused rights movements like the BYC of being “terrorist proxies.”

Speaking to Independent Urdu on Wednesday, Malik said there were “a few unanswered questions” related to Dr. Mahrang Baloch and the BYC. 

“The reason is that she leads a big movement but no one knows who is backing or supporting it,” Malik said.

“This is a very important question. If her movement is truly for the rights of Balochistan, and there is no ulterior motive to it, then the government will definitely engage.”

The government’s spokesperson said the state should engage with all Pakistanis regardless of which Pakistani province they belong to. 

“If there are any such factions, we will engage with them and are doing it already,” he said. 

Malik’s comments come days after BYC’s prominent leader Sammi Deen Baloch said her group was open to engaging in direct talks with “those who have the power” to end human rights violations in Balochistan, when asked if the group would hold talks with the military. 

“Those who have the authority to resolve our issues, whose voices are heard, they can be any person, any institution or any representative … we say that that empowered person should come forward,” she told Arab News in an interview when asked if her group was open to talks with the army. 

Pakistan has seen a surge in militant attacks by separatist groups in Balochistan in recent months. More than 50 people, including security forces, were killed in August last year in a string of assaults in Balochistan that were claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army, the province’s most prominent separatist outfit.


Pakistan PM to take notice of cricket team’s dismal state of affairs— aide 

Updated 27 February 2025
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Pakistan PM to take notice of cricket team’s dismal state of affairs— aide 

  • Hosts Pakistan crashed out of ICC Champions Trophy tournament after losses to New Zealand, India last week 
  • Rana Sanaullah laments poor standard of cricket at basic levels, exorbitant salaries of cricket board officials 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will take notice of the dismal state of affairs of cricket in the country, his adviser on political affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Thursday, after the national cricket team’s early round exit from the ICC Champions Trophy tournament this week. 

Hosts and defending champions Pakistan crashed out of the group stage of the Champions Trophy tournament after successive losses to New Zealand and India in their first two matches last week. 

Angry cricket fans have raised questions on Pakistan’s embarrassing elimination, pointing to selection flaws, lack of cricketing talent and intent to play modern cricket.

“So the prime minister will definitely take notice of all these things and we will also tell him that this should be discussed in parliament and cabinet,” Sanaullah told Geo News. 

The prime minister’s aide highlighted the dismal conditions of cricket at club, university and district levels, saying that the board should take drastic measures to improve basic cricket. 

He criticized the PCB’s decision to appoint mentors last year on a Rs5 million [$17,885] salary per month without explaining to them their job responsibilities. 

“They [mentors[ have been heard admitting to the media that they are unaware of their responsibilities, so they’ve been taking Rs5m monthly for not working,” Sanaullah said. 

He lamented that the same was the situation in other sports associations of Pakistan. 

“They are retired people who take up these positions there to enjoy the perks and privileges and facilities,” he said. 

“I think all these things need to be looked at and we need to bring basic changes there.”


Pakistan’s Sindh to procure 1,000 ‘pink’ electric motorcycles to encourage women empowerment

Updated 27 February 2025
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Pakistan’s Sindh to procure 1,000 ‘pink’ electric motorcycles to encourage women empowerment

  • Women driving motorcycles is rare in conservative Pakistan, where many are deprived of education, work opportunities 
  • Applicants must be students or employed, have two-wheeler license and be residents of Sindh, says Chief Minister’s House

KARACHI: The provincial government in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province on Thursday announced it would procure 1,000 pink electric motorcycles for women to encourage female mobility and provide them with sustainable transportation, a statement from the Chief Minister’s House said. 

Women driving motorcycles is rare in conservative Pakistan, where men in many households are the breadwinners while women tend to chores at home. Women driving cars or riding pillion on two-wheelers driven by a male relative is more socially acceptable in the country. 

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting of the provincial government’s senior ministers, advisers and special assistants to review provincial matters on Thursday. During the meeting, Shah was told that the Transport and Sindh Mass Transit Authority (T&MTD) plans to launch a program aimed at enhancing female mobility through sustainable transportation.

“This initiative will introduce approximately 1,000 electric motorcycles for women, which will be allocated through an open and transparent balloting process,” the CM House said.

“The initiative requires Rs300 million to be obtained outside the budget.”

The cabinet also noted that an increasing number of women worldwide are opting for electric motorcycles as their primary mode of transport for daily commuting. 

“Key factors driving this demand include greater mobility, cost-effectiveness compared to cars or public transport, eco-friendliness, and minimal maintenance,” the statement said. 

The CM House said electric bike provide women independence, promote economic empowerment, break gender stereotypes and improve safety and security for them.

Applicants must be permanent residents of Sindh, a student or a “working female,” and hold a valid two-wheeler driving license. 

The applicant also cannot sell the electric motorcycle for a period of seven years, the statement said. 


UAE-based company founded by Pakistanis to back AI-first ventures with $100 million investment

Updated 27 February 2025
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UAE-based company founded by Pakistanis to back AI-first ventures with $100 million investment

  • Disrupt.com says $100 million commitment to focus on AI, cybersecurity, Web3.0, automotive technology and retail innovation
  • Company says it partners with ambitious entrepreneurs to build, scale and invest in high-potential, globally focused tech startups

KARACHI: A venture builder company with its headquarters in the UAE and founded by Pakistani entrepreneurs, Disrupt.com, announced a $100 million commitment to build and back AI-first ventures worldwide on Thursday. 
Founded initially in 2008 as “Gaditek” in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi by three entrepreneurs named Aaqib Gadit, Uzair Gadit, and Umair Gadit, venture builder and investor Disrupt.com says it partners with ambitious entrepreneurs to build, scale and invest in high-potential, globally focused technology startups. 
“Today, Disrupt.com— founded by Aaqib Gadit, Uzair Gadit, and Umair Gadit— has announced a $100 million commitment to build and back AI-first technology ventures worldwide,” the company said in a statement. 
Disrupt.com said that since it began operations, the company has deployed over $40 million into its portfolio, supporting a mix of startups that it “built from scratch, co-built with external founders, and invested in as strategic backers.”
“The $100 million commitment announced by Disrupt.com will focus on five key areas: artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, Web3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation,” it said.
Web3 is an umbrella term for technologies like blockchain that decentralize data ownership and control on the Internet.
“By targeting pre-seed to Series A stage startups with strong organic growth potential and clear paths to profitability, the venture builder aims to create sustainable businesses that will shape the future of industries worldwide,” it added. 
Aaqib Gadit said now is the time to start “doubling down” on investing in the next wave of startups that will shape the future of the world. 
“With Web 3.0 in its infancy and AI storming into our lives, the opportunity to problem solve and create businesses that will fit the needs of how people live and work is up for the taking,” he said in a statement shared by Disrupt.com.
Uzair Gadit said the big moves in AI and tech always come from either China or the US.
“We believe that MENA and Pakistan have a key role to play in this transformation,” he said. 
Disrupt.com says its portfolio already includes ZigChain, a Web3.0 platform with 500,000+ users and hundreds of millions in managed assets, and PureSquare, a cybersecurity venture. 
The company says it has also made strategic investments in AI-focused startups such as Agentnoon, an organizational transformation platform, and Ahya, a climate action scaling tool.


Pakistan approves FIFA’s proposed amendments to lift international suspension

Updated 27 February 2025
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Pakistan approves FIFA’s proposed amendments to lift international suspension

  • FIFA suspended Pakistan on Feb. 6 after South Asian country rejected electoral reforms 
  • Pakistan hopes move would pave way for team to play in Asian Cup qualifiers in March 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Thursday unanimously approved FIFA’s proposed constitutional amendments in an extraordinary meeting in Lahore, the body said, as it attempts to return to international soccer again.
FIFA hit Pakistan on Feb. 6 with a third international suspension in less than eight years after the federation rejected electoral reforms. 
Attendees at the Extraordinary Congress called by the PFF in Lahore included officials from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.
“The congress members endorsed the FIFA proposed amendments in the best interest of Pakistan football, paving the way for the national team’s participation in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers following the expected lifting of FIFA’s suspension,” the PFF said in a statement.
The global football governing body warned the suspension would only be lifted subject to the PFF Congress “approving the PFF Constitution’s version presented by FIFA and the AFC [Asian Football Confederation].”
The PFF said it was hopeful the suspension would be lifted in time for Pakistan to play Syria on Mar. 25 in its first qualifier for the 2027 Asian Cup.