Pakistan, China launch Green Channel for Agricultural Trade at Sost-Khunjerab
ISLAMABAD (News Desk): Pakistan and China have taken a major step to boost bilateral agricultural trade with the signing of an agreement to operationalize a Green Channel at the Sost-Khunjerab Border.
The online signing ceremony was held on Wednesday at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Headquarters in Islamabad between the customs administrations of the two countries. The move is being described as an important milestone in facilitating bilateral trade and strengthening customs cooperation.
According to a statement issued by Pakistan Customs (FBR), the Pakistani delegation was headed by Mr. Syed Shakeel Shah, Member (Customs-Operations). The delegation included the Chief Collector of Customs, Peshawar, Collector of Customs, Gilgit-Baltistan, representatives of the Department of Plant Protection, National Agri-Trade & Food Safety Authority (NAFSA), Pakistan Single Window (PSW), the Ministry of Commerce, and the Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of Pakistan in China.
The Chinese delegation was headed by Ms. Li Qingua, Deputy Head of Urumqi Customs and Director of Tashkurgan Customs.
Under the new agreement, a dedicated Green Channel will be established for trade in an agreed list of agricultural and allied products between the two countries. The key feature of the arrangement is priority processing and examination of eligible consignments, while maintaining effective customs oversight through risk-based controls.
Both customs administrations will also enhance exchange of information and risk alerts to improve coordination and better management of cross-border trade.
Recognizing that agricultural trade is time-sensitive and perishable goods are prone to losses due to delays, the arrangement specifically provides for priority handling of perishable consignments to ensure their timely movement across the high-altitude border.
The ceremony concluded with the formal signing of the agreement and concluding remarks by the heads of both delegations, who reaffirmed their commitment to enhanced customs cooperation and trade facilitation.
Officials said the operationalization of the Green Channel is expected to provide a more efficient and coordinated framework for agricultural trade, reduce clearance times at Sost-Khunjerab — the only land border between Pakistan and China — and facilitate farmers, traders and exporters on both sides.
The development is also significant in the context of CPEC Phase-II, where agriculture and food security cooperation is a priority area. The Sost dry port in Gilgit-Baltistan is a key gateway for Pakistan-China overland trade and handles a growing volume of goods, especially during the summer season when Khunjerab Pass is open.
The FBR said the new mechanism will not only facilitate legitimate trade but also strengthen border controls through better risk management.