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Sust

For the university in Bangladesh, see Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.
Sost
سوست
Village
The town of Sost
The town of Sost
Map
Interactive map of Sost
Sost is located in Gilgit Baltistan
Sost
Sost
Sost is located in Pakistan
Sost
Sost
Sost is located in Hindu-Kush
Sost
Sost
Sost is located in West and Central Asia
Sost
Sost
Coordinates: 36°41′24″N 74°49′16″E / 36.69°N 74.821°E / 36.69; 74.821
CountryPakistan
Autonomous stateGilgit-Baltistan
DivisionGilgit
DistrictHunza
Sub-divisionGojal Tehsil
Elevation
2,800 m (9,200 ft)
Area code05813-9

Sust or Sost (Urdu: سوست) is a village located in the Gojal, Upper Hunza in the Gilgit–Baltistan region of Pakistan.[1] Situated at an elevation of 2,800 meters above sea level, Sost is the last Pakistani town on the Karakoram Highway before the Chinese border.[2]

History

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The Khunjerab Pass between Pakistan and China for tourism and limited trade in the 1980s.[3] With the creation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2016, Sost took on a more central role in a $46 billion effort to boost trade for Pakistan by broadening its range of potential partners through the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.[4]

Given Sost's status as a transportation hub, it plays an important role regarding both passengers and cargo crossing the Pakistan-China border. Branches of the Pakistan immigration and customs departments are correspondingly based in Sost. Sost is also home to a Serena Hotel.[5]

The Silk Route Dry Port commenced its business operations at the port in Sost, Upper Hunza, near the Khunjerab Pass in Gilgit-Baltistan. The annual trade volume between these two countries has increased from approximately $50 million in the mid '70s ($300 million in 2019)[6]to $14.5 billion in 2019[7] - an increase of almost 5000%. Trade increased year on year 12.5% to $16.724 billion between January and August 2025.[8] Sost Dry Port collected more than Rs9.5 billion in 2024,[9] a 72% increase over the Rs5.525 billion collected the previous year.[9] It collected a monthly record Rs1.88 billion in October 2025.[10]

Demography

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The main languages spoken in Sost are Wakhi and Burushaski.[2]

Transport

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The Sost Dry Port is connected by the Karakoram Highway to Gulmit, Aliabad, Gilgit and Chilas to the south and to the Chinese cities of Tashkurgan, Upal and Kashgar in the north. The Northern Areas Transport Corporation offers passenger road service between Islamabad, Gilgit and Sost.[11] Passenger road service between Tashkurgan and Sost also exists.[11] Road service between Kashgar and Gilgit (via Tashkurgan and Sost) started in summer 2006.[12] The border crossing between China and Pakistan at Khunjerab Pass (the highest border in the world) is open year-round.[13] Because of its harsh weather and high altitude, it had previously only been open only between April 1 and November 30. However, in 2024 an agreement was signed between the governments of the two countries committing to keep the pass open year-round.[13]

  • Overview of the Karakoram Highway
    Overview of the Karakoram Highway
  • A mileage sign in Sost.
    A mileage sign in Sost.
  • Distances to Sost, Islamabad, and Gilgit.
    Distances to Sost, Islamabad, and Gilgit.
  • Sost Dry Port
    Sost Dry Port
  • Sost Dry Port loading dock
    Sost Dry Port loading dock

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Google Maps".
  2. ^ a b "Sost Valley". Tourism, Sports, Culture, Archaeology & Museums Department. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  3. ^ Gul, Ayaz (29 June 2016). "Pakistani Mountain Town Looks to Cash in on China Trade". Voice of America. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  4. ^ Houreld, Katherine (21 April 2015). "China and Pakistan launch economic corridor plan worth $46 billion". Reuters. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Sost Serena Hotel". Directorate of Tourist Services in Gilgit Baltistan. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  6. ^ "$50,000,000 in 1975 is worth $301,092,936.80 today". CPI Inflation Calculator. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  7. ^ Priya Arora, and Abhinav Arya. "Policy Brief China Pakistan Economic Corridor" (PDF). Bureau of Research on Industrial and Economic Fundamentals. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  8. ^ "China-Pakistan Trade Co-operatio Reaches New Heights". The Daily CPEC. October 25, 2025. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Abbas, Tanveer (25 December 2024). "Customs collects record Rs9.5b revenue at Sost Dry Port". HUM News. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  10. ^ Nagri, Jamil (6 November 2025). "Record revenue collected from Sost Dry Port". Dawn. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  11. ^ a b "How to Cross the Khunjerab Pass between China and Pakistan". Inertia Network. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Kashgar-Gilgit bus service planned". Dawn. March 23, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  13. ^ a b Ali, Imran. "Khunjerab Pass to remain open year-round: A milestone in Pak-China connectivity". The Nation. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sost (Pakistan).
* Sost Dry Port
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