Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today inaugurated five ‘Pakistan-China Friendship Tunnels’ built at the cost of about USD 275 million to restore a strategic road link to China via Gilgit-Baltistan. The tunnels are part of a 24 kilometre realignment project which has been completed in collaboration with China in over three years.
The ‘Pakistan-China Friendship Tunnels’ are the network of seven-kilometre-long five tunnels which restored Karakorum Highway (KKH) near Attabad lake in Hunza valley of Gilgit-Baltistan region in the country’s north. The restoration of KKH is said to be linked with the historic USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.
Radio Pakistan reported that the repaired road is part of 24 kms long portion of the KKH which also includes two big and 78 small bridges. It costs about USD 275 million. The tunnels have been constructed by the National Highway Authority (NHA) in collaboration with the China Road and Bridge Corporation.
NHA officials briefed the Prime Minister on the details of the project and status of upgradation of other parts of KKH. Governor of Gilgit Baltistan Barjees Tahir, Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan Hafeezur Rehman and China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong were also present on the occasion.
The Attabad lake was formed following a heavy landslide in 2010 which severed a large section of the Karakoram Highway.
