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{{Short description|Overview of the reconstruction of the Chinese–Pakistani Karakoram Highway}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox road
|header_type= UC
|country= PAK
|type= N
|route= 35
|alternate_name= Karakoram Highway Reconstruction
|map= KKHReconstructions.png
|map_notes=Highlighted in red is the route of [[Karakoram Highway|National Highway 35]], which is to be completely rebuilt and upgraded under the CPEC agreement. Highlighted in blue is the {{convert|175|km|mi|abbr=on}} road between [[Gilgit]] and [[Skardu]] which is to be upgraded to a four-lane highway.
|length_km= 806
|length_round=
|length_ref=
|established=
|direction_a= North
|terminus_a= [[China–Pakistan border]]
|junction=
|direction_b= South
|terminus_b= [[Hasan Abdal]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]
|previous_type=
|previous_route=
|next_type=
|next_route=
}}

As part of the [[China–Pakistan Economic Corridor]], reconstruction and upgrade works are underway on the {{convert|887|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} National Highway 35 (N-35), which forms the Pakistani portion of the [[Karakoram Highway]] (KKH).

==Route description==

The KKH spans the {{convert|806|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} distance between the China–Pakistan border and the town of [[Hasan Abdal]]. At [[Burhan Interchange]] near Hasan Abdal, the existing [[M1 motorway (Pakistan)|M1 motorway]] will intersect the N-35 at the Shah Maqsood Interchange. From there, access onwards to Islamabad and Lahore continues as part of the existing M1 and M2 motorways. Hasan Abdal will also be at intersection of the [[China–Pakistan Economic Corridor#Eastern Alignment|Eastern Alignment]], and [[Western Alignment]].

The planned upgrades to the {{convert|470|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} section between Hasan Abdal and Raikot of the Karakoram Highway over the next many years is officially referred to in Pakistan as the Karakoram Highway Phase 2 project.

===Hasan Abdal and Havelian===
This is currently a {{convert|54|km|mi}} of 2 lane roadway referred to as the N-35. Work is completed to construct a new {{convert|59|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}}, six-lane [[controlled-access highway]] between [[Hasan Abdal]] and [[Haripur, Pakistan|Haripur]] officially referred as the [[Hazara Motorway]] or M-15. This section of reconstruction is not part of CPEC and has been co-financed by Asian Development Bank and UK.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20150914142047/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/01-Sep-2015/asian-bank-uk-to-co-finance-327m-in-economic-corridor</ref>

===Havelian to Shinkiari===
North of Havelian, the next {{convert|61|km|mi}} of the 2 lane roadway has been upgraded to a four-lane [[dual carriageway]] between Havelian and [[Shinkiari]] as part of CPEC. This upgraded section is also refereed as the second part of [[Hazara Motorway]] & was completed in November 2019.
<ref>{{cite web|title=Questions for Oral Answers and Their Replies|url=http://www.senate.gov.pk/uploads/documents/questions/1414066312_704.pdf|author=Senate Secretariat|publisher=Senate of Pakistan|accessdate=11 February 2016|location=Question 126|date=23 October 2014|quote=Shinkiari – Mansehra – Abbottabad section will be 50 Km long and constructed as 4- Lane Expressway... Abbottabad – Havelian section will be 11 km in length and constructed as 4-Lane Motorway with 6-Lane structures. {{!}} Portion between Abbottabad and Havelian is now to be a dual carriageway rather than motorway.}}</ref> Groundbreaking on this portion commenced in April 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Questions for Oral Answers and Their Replies|url=http://www.senate.gov.pk/uploads/documents/questions/1414066312_704.pdf|author=Senate Secretariat|publisher=Senate of Pakistan|accessdate=11 February 2016|location=Question 126|date=23 October 2014|quote=Raikot – Thakot section will be 280 Km in length and constructed as 2-Lane highway along a new alignment... Thakot – Shinkiari section will be 74 km in length wherein existing 2-Lane KKH will be upgraded and improved.}}</ref>

===Shinkiari to Thakot===
The Shinkiari to Thakot {{convert|76|km|mi}} is a 2 lane roadway. This will be upgraded to a 2 lane highway as part of CPEC and construction commenced in April 2016 jointly with construction of the Havelian to Shinkiari four-lane dual carriageway.<ref name="The News Pakstan">{{cite news|title=PM Sharif performs ground-breaking of Havelian-Thakot Motorway|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/116008-PM-Sharif-performs-ground-breaking-of-Havelian-Thakot-Motorway|accessdate=4 May 2016|work=The News Pakstan|date=28 April 2016}}</ref> Construction on both these sections is expected to be completed within 42 months at a cost of approximately $1.26 billion with 90% of funding to come from China's EXIM bank in the form of low interest rate concessional loans. The section is also refereed as the third part of [[Hazara Motorway]].&It is completed and opened for traffic, this part includes 3 big tunnels.
<ref name="The News Pakstan"/><ref name="ReferenceA">133 billion Pakistan rupees equivalent to US$1.26 billion as of May 2016</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=CPEC eastern alignment: Pakistan, China ink agreements worth $4.2b|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1096762/cpec-eastern-alignment-pakistan-china-ink-agreements-worth-4-2b/|accessdate=4 May 2016|work=Tribune |location= Pakistan |date=4 May 2016}}</ref>

===Thakot to Raikot===
The {{convert|279|km|mi}} of 2 lane roadway between [[Thakot]] and Raikot spans an area in which the government of Pakistan is currently either planning or actively constructing several hydropower projects, most notably the [[Diamer-Bhasha Dam]] and [[Dasu Dam]]. Sections of the N-35 around these projects will be completely rebuilt in tandem with dam construction<ref>{{cite web|title=Questions for Oral Answers and Their Replies|url=http://www.senate.gov.pk/uploads/documents/questions/1414066312_704.pdf|author=Senate Secretariat|publisher=Senate of Pakistan|accessdate=11 February 2016|location=Question 126|date=23 October 2014|quote=Raikot – Thakot section (2-Lane) 255.8 km; Feasibility Study Completed by Chinese Side. However the Alignment falls under the Four Dams planned by WAPDA, namely; Bhasha, Dasu, Pattan and Thakot. The Road construction is planned to commensurate with Dam Construction activities. In the meanwhile the existing KKH is being improved in its present condition.}}</ref> In the interim, this section of the N-35 is currently being improved from its current state until dam construction commences in full force at a later date. Improvement projects on this section are expected to be completed by January 2017 at a cost of approximately $72 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHA launches projects to improve KKH's condition|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/14211-nha-launches-projects-to-improve-kkhs-condition|accessdate=11 February 2016|work=The News|date=22 August 2015}}</ref><ref>7.5 billion PKR = 71.66 million USD as of 10 February 2016</ref>

China suspended funding for improvement of this portion of Karakorum Highway (KKH)<ref>{{cite news|title=CPEC funding in Trouble. China plays hardball|url=http://theindependent.in/cpec-funding-in-trouble-china-plays-hardball/|accessdate=5 December 2017|work=Theindependent.in|date=5 December 2017}}</ref> in December 2017, apparently due to allegations of corruption in the project.

===Raikot to the Khunjerab Pass at Chinese border===
The next {{convert|336|km|mi}} of 2 lane roadway connect Raikot to [[Khunjerab Pass]]. Reconstruction works on this section of roadway preceded the CPEC, and were initiated after severe damage to roadways in the area following the [[2010 Pakistan floods]]. Most of this section of roadway was completed in September 2012 at a cost of $510 million,<ref name="Pakistan Observer">{{cite news|title=PM Launches KKH Projects Thanks China for Road Networks Upgradation Help|url=http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=175942|accessdate=11 February 2016|work=Pakistan Observer|date=29 September 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215151806/http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=175942|archivedate=15 February 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and was severely dilapidated even prior to the 2010 flooding.<ref>{{cite news|title=China-aided highway changes life of Pakistanis|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-04/20/c_134165479.htm|accessdate=11 February 2016|agency=Xinhua News Agency|date=20 April 2015}}</ref> No additional upgrade is proposed for this section in the current{{when?|date=March 2021}} reconstruction phase.{{fact|date=March 2021}}

===Khunjerab Pass===
The [[Khunjerab Pass]] is the highest paved international border crossing in the world and the highest point on the Karakoram Highway. The long, relatively flat pass is snow-covered during the winter season and as a consequence is generally closed for heavy vehicles from 30 November to 1 May and for all vehicles from 30 December to 1 April. No additional upgrade is proposed for the Khunjerab pass section of KKH in the current reconstruction phase.

===Landslide shelters on KKH===
Many sites on the Karakoram Highway are prone to landslides specially during the monsoon and winter months. Landslide shelters have been constructed at many points to protect the highway but still the highway often gets closed for traffic for 2-3 days due to landslides triggered by rainfall or snowfall<ref>{{cite news|title=Karakoram Highway opens up for traffic after three days|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2311823/karakoram-highway-opens-up-for-traffic-after-three-days|accessdate=23 July 2021|work=The Express Tribune|date=23 July 2021}}</ref>

===China-Pakistan Friendship Tunnels===
{{Main|Karakorum Highway Realignment (China-Pakistan Friendship Tunnels)}}

In addition to flooding, a large earthquake rocked the region nearest to the China-Pakistan border in 2010, triggering massive landslides which dammed the Hunza River, and resulted in the formation of the [[Attabad Lake]]. Portions of the N-35 were submerged in the lake, forcing all vehicular traffic onto barges to traverse the new reservoir. Construction on a [[Karakorum Highway Realignment (China-Pakistan Friendship Tunnels)|{{convert|24|km|mi|adj=on}} series of bridges and tunnels]] to [[Attabad Lake]] began in 2012 and required 36 months for completion. The bypass consists of two large bridges, 78 culverts and {{convert|5|km|mi|spell=in}} worth of tunnels that were inaugurated for public use on 14 September 2015 at a cost of $275 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=PM Nawaz inaugurates Pak-China Friendship Tunnels over Attabad Lake|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1206911|accessdate=11 February 2016|work=Dawn|date=14 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=PM inaugurates tunnels over Attabad Lake in G-B|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/956452/pm-inaugurates-tunnel-over-attabad-lake-in-g-b/|accessdate=11 February 2016|work=The Express Tribune|date=14 September 2015}}</ref>

===Gilgit to Skardu===
The {{convert|175|km|mi|adj=on}} road between [[Gilgit]] and [[Skardu]] will be upgraded to a four-lane road at a cost of $475 million to provide direct access to Skardu from the N-35.<ref>{{cite news|title=PM Announces Construction of Skardu-Gilgit Road|url=http://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2015/11/pm-announces-construction-of-skardu-gilgit-road/|accessdate=6 December 2015|publisher=Samaa TV|date=24 November 2015}}</ref><ref>note: 50 billion Pakistani Rupees = US$475 million as of December 2015</ref>

==Cost and Financing==

As part of CPEC, approximately $11 billion worth of infrastructure projects being developed by the Pakistani government will be financed by concessionary loans, with composite interest rates of 1.6%,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Butt|first1=Naveed|title=Economic Corridor: China to Extend Assistance at 1.6 Percent Interest Rate|url=http://www.brecorder.com/market-data/stocks-a-bonds/0/1223449/|accessdate=16 December 2015|work=Business Recorder|date=3 September 2015}}</ref> after Pakistan successfully lobbied the Chinese government to reduce interest rates from an initial 3%.<ref name="Geo TV News">{{cite news|last1=Haider|first1=Mehtab|title=China converts $230m loan for Gwadar airport into grant|url=http://www.geo.tv/article-198450-China-converts-230m-loan-for-Gwadar-airport-into-grant|accessdate=16 December 2015|publisher=Geo TV News|date=23 September 2015}}</ref> The concessional loans are subsidised by the government of China, and are to be dispersed by the [[Exim Bank of China]] and the [[China Development Bank]]. For comparison, loans for previous Pakistani infrastructure projects financed by the [[World Bank]] carried an interest rate between 5% and 8.5%,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finances.worldbank.org/Loan-and-Credit-Administration/IBRD-Statement-of-Loans-Latest-Available-Snapshot/sfv5-tf7p?|title = IBRD Statement of Loans - Latest Available Snapshot | World Bank Group Finances}}</ref> while interest rates on market loans approach 12%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FR.INR.LEND|title = Lending interest rate (%) | Data}}</ref>

The [[China Development Bank]] will finance the $920 million towards the cost of reconstruction of the {{convert|487|km|mi|adj=on}} portion of the Karakoram Highway between Hasan Abdal and Raikot.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rana|first1=Shahbaz|title=Eastern corridor route: Pakistan, China to sign infrastructure financing deals|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/870524/eastern-corridor-route-pakistan-china-to-sign-infrastructure-financing-deals/|accessdate=6 December 2015|work=The Express Tribune|date=16 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kiani|first1=Khaleeq|title=Chinese firms to get contracts for two CPEC projects|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1200203|accessdate=16 December 2015|work=Dawn News|date=13 August 2015}}</ref>

An addition $1.26 billion will be lent by the China Exim Bank for the construction of the Havelian to Thakot portion of this stretch of roadway,<ref name="The News Pakstan"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/> to be dispersed as low-interest rate concessional loans.<ref>{{cite news|title=CPEC eastern alignment: Pakistan, China ink agreements worth $4.2b|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1096762/cpec-eastern-alignment-pakistan-china-ink-agreements-worth-4-2b/|accessdate=4 May 2016|work=Tribune |location=Pakistan|date=4 May 2016}}</ref>

Construction works on the China-Pakistan Friendship Tunnels can be traced to 2013, when China began construction on a {{convert|24|km|mi|adj=on}} bypass of [[Attabad Lake]] with a combination of 5 km worth of tunnels, two large bridges, and 78 small bridges to bypass the lake which had been formed after a 2010 earthquake triggered massive landslides. The resulting landslides cut off both the Hunza River and Karakoram Highway resulting in the formation of the reservoir. Prior to completion of the bypass, all vehicular traffic had to be loaded onto barges to traverse the new reservoir. Construction of the tunnels began in 2012 and required 36 months for completion. The 24 km long series of bridges and tunnels was inaugurated on 15 September 2015 at a cost of $275 million and was hailed as a major accomplishment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1206911|title = PM Nawaz inaugurates Pak-China Friendship Tunnels over Attabad Lake|date = 14 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/956452/pm-inaugurates-tunnel-over-attabad-lake-in-g-b/|title = PM inaugurates tunnels over Attabad Lake in G-B|date = 14 September 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{China–Pakistan Economic Corridor}}
{{One Belt, One Road}}

[[Category:Roads in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Highways in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Lists of roads in Pakistan]]
[[Category:China–Pakistan Economic Corridor]]
[[Category:Economic development in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Investment in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Nawaz Sharif administration]]
[[Category:Proposed transport infrastructure in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Trade routes]]

Reconstruction of the Karakoram Highway - Revision history

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