GILGIT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has inaugurated Attabad Tunnel, known as Pak-China Friendship Tunnel, on Karakorum Highway and realignment of the highway parts of which were submerged due to landsliding in January 2010.
Addressing the ceremony, Nawaz said Gilgit-Baltistan is a vital link in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and would benefit most from this mega project which would particularly increase the tourist influx. The seven-kilometre-long five tunnels are part of the 24km long portion of the Karakorum Highway.
Two bridges and 78 small bridges have also been constructed on the rebuilt section of the highway, Radio Pakistan reported.
The tunnels have been constructed by the National Highway Authority (NHA) in collaboration with the China Road and Bridge Corporation to restore part of the road which had submerged under the Attabad Lake. The project has been completed in a span of three years and two months.
Nawaz urged the Gilgit Baltistan government to maintain high level of transparency and integrity in the expenditure of public money. The premier also stressed to rectify the mistakes of the past and make corrections where necessary.
The GB chief minister informed the prime minister that this summer more than 600,000 tourists visited Gilgit-Baltistan which shows upward economic activity in the region.
