Over 10,000 Humla locals obtain border pass to enter Taklakot

By Rajan Rawat,Humal, July 21: Over 10,000 residents of Humla district have obtained border passes to travel to Taklakot in neighbouring Tibet Autonomous Region of China for employment and trade purposes. 

The district administration has issued the passes, which serve as travel permits allowing locals to cross into the Chinese territory up to 30 kilometres beyond the border for work and business activities.

According to Chief District Officer Narayan Pandey, a total of 10,955 individuals have received the border passes so far. 

Of them, 8,237 are new applicants, while 2,718 have renewed their passes. The passes are valid for one year and must be renewed annually after mid-July.

China reopened the Humla border point on May 1, 2024, following its closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown, 47 Humla residents who had already been working in Taklakot were stranded and continued their employment and business activities there.

CDO Pandey said that a significant number of residents from Humla now regularly travel to Taklakot, in China’s Purang County, for construction work and trade. Among them, 312 individuals are engaged in trade, while many others work in construction, hotels, and restaurants.

Some traders also travel to Taklakot to purchase commercial goods and construction materials, which they then transport back to Nepal. Typically, residents travel for work for up to six months, earning between Rs. 400,000 to 600,000 during their stay, said Dhanjit Bhandari, who is currently working in Taklakot.

Since April 2025, 3,906 new border passes have been issued, 2,657 new and 1,741 renewals, according to the local administration.

Although the process of obtaining the border pass remains open year-round, most residents tend to apply before the end of November.