Pakistan and China have inaugurated a new air cargo route to strengthen trade relations between the two countries, ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's upcoming visit to Beijing. The new route, which was launched on May 28, connects Guizhou, China, with Karachi, Pakistan.
According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency, the inaugural flight departed from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou, carrying six tonnes of freight, including clothing, electronics, and various commodities. After a flight of nearly six hours, the plane landed in Karachi and was set to return to Guiyang with a load of blue crabs from Pakistan, as reported by Guiyang Customs.
The air route is scheduled to operate three times a week and will transport goods such as hardware accessories, clothing fabrics, and electronic accessories. This new connection is not only the first direct air link between Guizhou and Pakistan but also the first air freight route linking the province with a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) country.
Officials expect the new route to establish Guiyang as a key cargo distribution center in southwest China and to reduce the transportation time for Pakistan’s high-quality fresh products to reach Guizhou. The inauguration of the Guiyang-Karachi air cargo route is anticipated to facilitate trade between the two regions, according to the APP report.
This air cargo link comes ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's five-day official visit to China, starting from June 4. During his visit, Sharif plans to meet top Chinese businessmen to attract more investments for the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
Prime Minister Sharif is expected to hold discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and other leaders to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance cooperation under the multi-billion dollar CPEC.
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