Marking a major milestone, the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) has formally commenced the transportation of economic merchandise from China to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by way of Pakistan’s land-sea route underneath the worldwide street transport (TIR) system.
This breakthrough represents a turning level within the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative, offering a shorter and extra environment friendly route for transporting items from China to the Gulf international locations, Radio Pakistan reported.
As a part of the initiative, a truck carrying digital gear departed from Kashgar, Xinjiang, certain for Jebel Ali Port in Dubai by way of Pakistan. The journey started on the NLC Dry Port in Sost, Gilgit–Baltistan, the place a ceremony was held to commemorate the historic event.
The items might be transported from Kashgar to Karachi by NLC vehicles in simply eight days. From Karachi, the container might be shipped to Jebel Ali Port by sea, taking a further two days. Thus, the whole journey from Xinjiang, China, to the UAE will take a mere 10 days, considerably quicker than the roughly one-month period by way of sea alone.
This new China-to-UAE commerce route by way of Pakistan presents substantial advantages for the enterprise neighborhood.
“It’s very handy to move items from Kashgar, Xinjiang, to different international locations. Customs authorities have offered intensive help, and now we’ve got increasingly more prospects from totally different international locations. Our enterprise has additionally expanded to Pakistan and Afghanistan,” mentioned the operations in-charge of NLC’s China Project Department.
“I consider the enterprise quantity will proceed to develop, with the annual transportation anticipated to exceed 1,000 automobile journeys,” he added.
The Khunjerab Pass, which serves as a strategic gateway for commerce between Europe and South Asia, earlier facilitated bilateral commerce, together with imports of textiles, agricultural merchandise, and important commodities, in addition to exports of herbs and crops.
“This achievement marks a major leap ahead in operationalizing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), using the shortest and best route from China to the Gulf area by way of Pakistan,” the NLC said.
The NLC additionally emphasised that this milestone demonstrates the operational viability of the Khunjerab Pass as an important regional commerce gateway, making certain year-round connectivity.
