ISLAMABAD, October 30, 2026 — Pakistan and China have signed an agreement to introduce a customs green channel at the Sost-Khunjerab border crossing, aiming to speed up the movement of agricultural products and reduce delays for traders.
The agreement was signed on October 29 during an online ceremony hosted at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) headquarters in Islamabad, with customs officials from both countries taking part.
Under the arrangement, selected agricultural and related products will receive priority processing and examination at the border. Perishable goods will also be given priority handling to help prevent delays that could affect their quality and market value.
The green channel will not eliminate customs checks. Instead, authorities will continue applying risk-based controls while making clearance procedures more efficient for eligible shipments.
Pakistan and China have also agreed to strengthen the exchange of customs information and risk alerts, allowing their respective administrations to coordinate more closely on cross-border trade.
Pakistan’s delegation was led by Syed Shakeel Shah, Member Customs (Operations), while senior Chinese customs officials represented their country.
Officials from Pakistan’s plant protection authorities, Pakistan Single Window, the Ministry of Commerce and customs offices in Peshawar and Gilgit-Baltistan also participated.
The Sost-Khunjerab crossing connects Gilgit-Baltistan with China’s Xinjiang region and serves as an important overland trade route between the two countries.
Its high-altitude location makes efficient clearance particularly important because winter weather can disrupt transport and limit the period available for regular trade.
The agreement is expected to benefit traders dealing in time-sensitive agricultural shipments.
The arrangement represents a further step towards improving trade facilitation and customs cooperation between Pakistan and China.