sesame seed export to China had also increased, he added.
The textiles, rice, cherry, mangoes and other food items could be exported to Beijing, which would be another effective way of increasing foreign reserves, he added.
Talking to APP during his recent visit to Beijing, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative, Ahsan Iqbal termed the reopening of pass a very positive development after three years and expressed confidence that the trade between Pakistan and China would resume through land route.
He hoped that the Khunjerab border facility would be upgraded by both sides so that it could remain open for 12 months and it becomes an all-weather facility.
He said that particularly people in Gilgit-Baltistan would greatly benefit from local trade through this border post.
Ahsan Iqbal said that efforts were being made to resume bus service between Pakistan and China through Khunjerab Pass to provide economical means of transportation to Pakistani students studying in China.
As per official data, the import and export cargo volume at the Khunjerab Pass topped 200,000 tonnes from 2016 to 2020.
