World’s most beautiful highway: The Karakoram Highway also known as the KKH, the National Highway 35, is regarded as the most beautiful highway in the world. More popularly known as the China–Pakistan Friendship Highway, it is a 1,300 km (810 mi) national highway which extends from Hasan Abdal in the Punjab province of Pakistan to the Khunjerab Pass in Gilgit-Baltistan. Connecting the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the highway is a popular tourist attraction. Here are all the details you need to know about the Karakoram Highway.
‘Eighth Wonder of the World’
The Karakoram Highway is one of the highest paved roads in the world, often called the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ due to its height. Talking about its height, the highway passes through the Karakoram mountain range at maximum elevation of 4,714 m (15,466 ft) near Khunjerab Pass.
Workers who died making World’s most beautiful highway
Built by the governments of China and Pakistan, the ‘world’s most beautiful’ highway was started in 1962. Completed in the year 1979 , it was opened to the public in 1986. It has been reported by the Dawn newspaper of Pakistan that about 900 Pakistanis and about 200 Chinese workers died during the construction of the highway.
China’s “String of Pearls” strategy
It must be noted that the highway passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), specifically the Gilgit-Baltistan region, which is administered by Pakistan but claimed by India. Readers should also note that China claims it to be part of its economic strategy to revive old trade routes, but Indian security experts denounce it as part of China’s “String of Pearls” strategy. Notably, China’s “String of Pearls” strategy is a policy aimed at encircling India from all sides.
Most importantly, since highway passes through areas which are in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and China, it is very difficult for Indians to visit these areas because of security concerns.
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