The Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO) has received formal approval from Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Communications to resume its long-awaited bus service between Gilgit and Kashgar, China.
The service, which was suspended 14 years ago due to a devastating landslide, is set to restore a key cross-border link between the two nations.
In 2010, a massive landslide created the Attabad Lake, submerging a 14-kilometer stretch of the Karakoram Highway (KKH), leading to the indefinite suspension of the Gilgit-Kashgar route.
The recent approval marks the reopening of this vital transport link, made possible through a collaborative effort between NATCO, a state-owned entity in Gilgit-Baltistan, and China’s Xinjiang-Kashgar Xin Lu Transportation Co Ltd.
Boosting trade and tourism through CPEC collaboration
The resumption of this bus service, expected to be launched before the seasonal closure of the Khunjerab Pass in December, is seen as a significant step toward enhancing connectivity between Pakistan and China. According to NATCO spokesperson Ehsan Shah, minor modifications to the 2006 agreement are underway, with a formal signing ceremony anticipated in the coming weeks.
This revival comes under the broader framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an initiative that has strengthened economic and trade ties between the two neighboring countries. The Ministry of Communications issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) on September 30, 2024, allowing NATCO to proceed with the agreement alongside its Chinese counterpart.
The ministry emphasised that this decision aligns with discussions held during the Second Meeting of the Xinjiang-Pakistan Economic and Trade Cooperation Working Group.
The bus service is expected to facilitate not only the movement of people but also stimulate tourism and trade in the region, reconnecting the scenic Gilgit-Baltistan area with Kashgar, a key trade hub in Xinjiang, China. With the reopening of this historic route, Pakistan and China aim to further cement their bilateral relationship, fostering greater regional integration and economic growth.
