India-China border trade via Lipulekh Pass to resume after six years
District Magistrate Ashish Bhatgai said that preparations have begun for the trade session, which usually runs from June to September, as per the directives of the Union government. The move comes after the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Ministry of External Affairs.
According to the district judge, External Affairs Minister Vikram Misri wrote a letter to Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, requesting resumption of trade through the Himalayan pass. It is stated in the letter that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Trade and Industry also gave permission.
Bhatgai said the state government has been asked to direct relevant departments to ensure resumption of trade for the 2026 session. Contact information of local officials will be shared with their Chinese counterparts to ensure better coordination between the two parties.
To facilitate the session, instructions were issued to trade pass issuing officials, designated banks for currency exchange, Customs Department and Dharchula administration to prepare a detailed action plan. This includes transit camps for traders, communications, banking services, security and medical facilities.
Border trade with Tibet via Lipulekh resumed in 1992 after a long break. However, it was stopped in 2019 due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Jeevan Singh Ronkali, president of Pithoragarh-based Simant Vyapar Sangathan, welcomed this decision. He said the resumption would allow traders to take back goods stored in warehouses in Tibet’s Taklakot since the suspension in 2019.
