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Sust
سوست | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 The town of Sost | |
  Sust  Sust  Sust  Sust | |
| Coordinates: 36°41′24″N 74°49′16″E / 36.69°N 74.821°E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Autonomous state | Gilgit-Baltistan |
| Division | Gilgit |
| District | Hunza |
 | |
Sost or Sust (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.
The town plays an important role in the transportation of both passengers and cargo because it serves as the gateway for all traffic crossing the Pakistan-China border. The Pakistani immigration and customs departments are based in Sost, making it a pivotal point for border clearance and administrative procedures. Furthermore, Pakistan and China have opened the border at Khunjerab for trade and tourism.
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 seen a significant increase, rising from less than $2 billion in 2002 to $6.9 billion, with an ambitious target of reaching $15 billion by 2014.
Sost Dry Por is the first formal port at the China-Pakistan border. It serves as a critical hub for customs clearance and other necessary formalities for goods moving from the city of Kashgar and the surrounding Xinjiang autonomous region in China to various commercial centers in Pakistan.
The town of Sost is well-connected by the Karakoram Highway, which links it to several towns and cities in both Pakistan and China. To the south, it connects to Gulmit, Aliabad, Gilgit and Chilas while in the north, it provides access to the Chinese cities of Tashkurgan, Upal and Kashgar, thereby enhancing trade and transportation routes in the region.