Pakistan and China Launch New Air Cargo Route to Enhance Bilateral Trade

A new air cargo route between China and Pakistan was inaugurated this week to bolster bilateral trade and connectivity, according to state-run media reports. The route links China's southwestern Guizhou province to Pakistan's largest city, Karachi.

Reported by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) on Wednesday, this is the first air route connecting Guizhou and Pakistan, and it marks the first air freight route linking the province with a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) country.

To commemorate the launch of the route, an all-cargo plane carrying six tons of goods, including clothing, electronic products, and other commodities, departed from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou, on Tuesday morning. It reached Karachi within six hours.

Officials highlighted that this new air route will contribute to establishing Guiyang as a key cargo distribution center in southwest China. Additionally, it is expected to shorten the time for Pakistan's high-quality fresh products to reach Guizhou.

In January, the two nations also initiated an air cargo route connecting Ezhou Huahu Airport in China's Hubei province with Lahore, Pakistan's eastern city. Pakistan's ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, described the Lahore-Hubei route as a significant step forward in bilateral connectivity and anticipated that it would boost trade between the two countries.

China is a significant ally and investor in Pakistan, with both nations collaborating on various projects, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Under the BRI, more than $65 billion has been pledged for infrastructure development, including road and rail projects, in Pakistan.