GILGIT, May 1: The Khunjerab Pass between Pakistan and China, which was lying closed for the past four months, opened for trade and tourists on Monday.

Sources said that government officers, immigration staff and customs personnel reached the Sust border town of Northern Areas to resume their duties.

The sources said that a large number of traders and tourists had also proceeded to Sust to enter China after the Northern Areas administration issued thousands of border passes.

They said the Karakoram Highway was being cleared at various points where heavy snowfall and avalanches had caused landslides.

The border between China and Pakistan opens every year on May 1 for trade and tourism and closes on Dec 30.

The sources in the Northern Areas Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the border trade would get impetus in June as the governments of the two countries had decided to run a bus service between Gilgit and Kashgher thrice a week.