It is the first air cargo route connecting the province with a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) country. | Photo credit: Emmanual Yogini
A modern air cargo route between Pakistan and China has been launched to further strengthen trade ties between the two weather-friendly allies ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Beijing next week.
According to state-run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan, a modern air cargo route was inaugurated on May 28, connecting Guizhou in China with Karachi in Pakistan.
The service was launched with the departure of a cargo plane carrying six tons of cargo, including clothing, electronics and various goods, from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou, China Economic Net (CEN) said.
After almost six hours of flight, the plane arrived in Karachi. According to Guiyang Customs, it was scheduled to return to Guiyang loaded with blue crabs from Pakistan.
Flights on this route are scheduled three times a week and carry cargo including metal accessories, clothing fabrics and electronic accessories.
This air route is significant as it is the first direct link between Guizhou and Pakistan, as well as the first air cargo route to connect the province with a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) country.
Officials believe this modern route will facilitate turn Guiyang into a cargo distribution center in southwest China and shorten the time it takes for Pakistani fresh, high-quality produce to reach Guizhou.
According to the APP report, the opening of the Guiyang-Karachi air cargo route is expected to facilitate trade between the two regions.
In January, the two countries launched an air cargo route connecting Ezhou Huahu airport in central China’s Hubei province with the city of Lahore in eastern Pakistan.
The air cargo service comes ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s five-day official visit on June 4. He will meet top Chinese businessmen to seek further investments in the second phase of Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
Mr. Sharif is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang and other leaders to develop a plan to further strengthen bilateral ties as the all-weather allies seek greater cooperation under the multi-billion-dollar CPEC.
