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Protesting traders block Karakoram Highway in Pakistan, several Chinese nationals stranded

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 03 Aug 2025, 08:46 am Print

Protesting traders block Karakoram Highway in Pakistan, several Chinese nationals stranded Pakistan Protest

Karakoram Highway. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The local traders, affiliated with Pakistan-China trade through Khunjerab Pass, continued their protest against taxes intensified on Tuesday by blocking the Karakoram Highway (KKH).

The blockage suspended transport operations between Pakistan and China for the second consecutive day.

Traders have been staging a protest sit-in, blocking the Sost Dry Port for the past nine days, reported Dawn News.

The traders are calling for the immediate clearance of containers at the dry port based solely on customs duties, exempting them from other federal taxes, the newspaper reported.

Amid the blockages, several passengers, including Chinese nationals and foreign tourists, are currently stranded in the town.

According to reports, the Chinese nationals were scheduled to travel to China’s Xinjiang province through Khunjerab Pass from Sost.

Protesters have alleged that the administration attempted to disperse them and reopen the traffic.

The protesters said they resisted and blocked the Sost immigration office.