Revolutionising Regional Trade: The TIR Route Connecting Pakistan and China
The International Road Transport (TIR) route linking Pakistan and China is poised to revolutionize regional trade connections, according to Caretaker Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Muhammad Sami Saeed. In an interview with Gwadar Pro, he stressed that this newly inaugurated route will not only bolster trade between the two nations but also establish a secure and efficient land passage to connect landlocked Central Asian countries.
Saeed hailed the venture as another "win-win situation" in the growing collaboration between Pakistan and China. The inaugural convoy of cargo trucks is already en route from China to Pakistan via this new TIR route. This marks the first cross-border transportation of goods under the United Nations International Road Transport Convention, facilitated by Pakistan's National Logistics Corporation and CEVA Logistics, a prominent Chinese firm.
This milestone coincided with the 10th anniversary of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project and was celebrated with a ceremony at the Kashgar Yuanfang International Logistics Port Company, officially launching the TIR service. The event witnessed the participation of representatives from NLC, Kashgar Customs, Municipal Committee officials, CEVA Logistics, and the Cross-Border E-Commerce Association.
During the ceremony, speakers highlighted the significance of the TIR transport route from Kashgar to Islamabad, shedding light on future plans for the transportation of goods under the TIR agreement between the two nations. Thanks to streamlined customs procedures at the borders, cross-border movement of TIR goods will become faster and safer, ultimately reducing both time and costs.
Minister Saeed also revealed that he had issued orders to expedite work on CPEC projects, aligning with the celebration of the 10th anniversary of this monumental endeavor by Pakistan and China.