ISLAMABAD, April 12: Pakistan has formally sent a request to the Chinese government for revival of land route agreement, well-placed sources told Dawn on Saturday

The agreement for land route via Khunjerab was signed in the 1967, which lapsed in 2000 and was yet to be revived.

According to sources, in the absence of any agreement with China, it was the Pakistani traders, who were facing problems in importing and exporting goods from China.

The sources were of the opinion that in case the agreement was revived, it would help in enhancing the volume of trade between the two countries.

According to the sources, the government should initiate bilateral transit trade agreement with China and should also establish dry port facilities on Pakistan-China border on reciprocal basis. A dry port has been set up at Sust on Pakistan side only by a Chinese Company Sin-Trans.

“There should be an agreement between NLC and Sino- Trans to facilitate cargo movement by land route. The city of Kashghar is already connected by Railways which extended to Urumqi and Beijing. Pakistani bulk goods can reach Beijing in a week’s time from Kashghar,” said the sources.

Exchanges between the Northern Areas of Pakistan and Xinjiang province through land route should be promoted, said the sources.