Shutting the Gates: How the New Border Pass Policy Marginalizes the Many

By Syed Shamsuddin

The Border Pass System and the Legacy of NATCL

The Border Pass System in Gilgit-Baltistan is not a privilege but a lifeline. Its very purpose—born of the region’s harsh geography and fragile economy—has always been to empower marginalized mountain communities by offering them access to modest-scale trade with neighboring Xinjiang. For decades, this system provided relief, dignity, and opportunity where few alternatives existed.

NATCL: The Early Framework

In 1967, under the first Barter Trade Protocol, the Northern Areas Traders Cooperative Limited (NATCL) was created in Gilgit as the sole organizer of border trade with Kashgar. Goods traded under this scheme were exempt from duties and taxes by the Central Board of Revenue through SRO No. 2(1)/70 dated January 1, 1970. For nearly two decades, NATCL facilitated regulated barter caravans, issuing border passes exclusively to its members.

This arrangement—however limited—recognized the right of local traders to engage in cross-border commerce. Yet with the withdrawal of exemptions via SRO No. 492(1)/88 on June 26, 1988, and the policy shift of 1986 that opened Khunjerab to general tourism, NATCL’s monopoly collapsed. Ordinary residents, for the first time, could access passes for trade and cultural exchange, reclaiming their ancestral routes without the filter of a cooperative.

From Monopoly to Inclusion

The fall of NATCL was not a loss but a correction. Allegations of favoritism and exclusion had already undermined its credibility. The revised Border Pass System—decentralized and inclusive—restored fairness by restricting eligibility to genuine residents of Gilgit-Baltistan. This reform was more than administrative; it was historical justice. It allowed locals to reconnect with Kashgar as traders, students, and cultural ambassadors, not as mere subjects of regulation.

The Transformation of 1986

The opening of Khunjerab Pass in 1986 was a turning point. Gilgit-Baltistan ceased to be a silent frontier. Its people became active participants in regional diplomacy, education, and commerce. The Silk Route—once a corridor of shared prosperity—was revived in spirit, empowering households across the valleys to dream beyond subsistence.

A Dangerous Regression

That hard-won progress is now under threat. A new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) recently introduced by the GB government imposes elitist conditions: only those with proof of business transactions above PKR 5 million may qualify for passes. As highlighted by activist Roshan Din Diameri, this approach betrays the very essence of the system.

Such a policy:

• Excludes small traders, shopkeepers, and seasonal earners.

• Disenfranchises thousands of households dependent on cross-border trade.

• Reduces the Silk Route from a community bond to an exclusive corridor for the privileged few.

Coupled with exorbitant fee hikes, the Border Pass is turning from a survival mechanism into an unaffordable luxury. This regression punishes the poor while protecting only the wealthy—reversing decades of progress.

An Urgent Call to Action

The people of Gilgit-Baltistan are not seeking charity; they are demanding justice. To safeguard livelihoods and restore public trust, immediate measures are needed:

1. Revoke the PKR 5 million threshold.

2. Restore inclusive criteria based on residency, citizenship, and legitimate purpose.

3. Reverse fee hikes to keep the system accessible.

4. Ensure fair baggage allowances so small traders and seasonal earners can survive.

Failure to act will not only cripple the fragile mountain economy but also erode the trust of communities in both GB’s administration and the federation at large.

Reviving the True Spirit of the Silk Route

The Border Pass System was meant to embody continuity, empowerment, and trust. To reduce it to an elitist entitlement is to betray both history and the people who have kept this frontier alive.

The path forward is clear:

• Equity over elitism.

• Community rights over bureaucratic privilege.

• Revival of the Silk Route’s true ethos—a lifeline for all, not a luxury for the few.

Gilgit-Baltistan today stands at a crossroads. Either we honor the egalitarian traditions that sustained its people for centuries, or we allow shortsighted policies to sever the bonds of economy, culture, and trust. This is not merely an administrative choice—it is a moral one.