GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Azar has launched an online registration system allowing local traders to apply for tax exemptions on goods imported from China, under an agreement providing annual exemptions of up to Rs4 billion.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Traders’ Registration and Tax Exemption System (GB-TERS) is designed to simplify registration, ensure transparent access to exemptions and prevent discrimination among eligible traders.
Under the arrangement, goods imported through Sost Dry Port for local consumption in Gilgit-Baltistan are exempt from sales tax, income tax and federal excise duty, subject to eligibility requirements and the annual ceiling.
The exemptions follow an agreement reached in September 2025 after traders staged a 68-day protest at Sost Dry Port, blocking the Karakoram Highway and disrupting trade between Pakistan and China through the Khunjerab Pass.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Azar said the exemptions had been secured from the federal government to support local businesses and consumers.
He clarified that applicants must operate a registered firm or partnership to qualify for the facility.
The chief minister also directed the provincial secretary for minerals and industries to urgently prepare proposals for establishing a trade-free zone in Gilgit to facilitate domestic and international traders.
He said the provincial government would develop the proposed zone using its own resources.
