Pakistan Minister: Government Approves Construction of a National Highway to the China Border
Source: Global Times
[Special Correspondent of Global Times in Pakistan, Huang Xiaona] On May 5, Pakistan's Minister of Communications Abdul Aleem Khan announced that the government has approved the construction of a road from the Mardan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to the China border, named the New National Highway 15. Previously, Pakistan already had National Highway 15, mainly connecting Mardan and Qillah Aamar Ali in Gilgit-Baltistan, and was considered a branch of the Karakoram Highway (called National Highway 35 in Pakistan).
The Karakoram Highway, built by China, was fully opened in 1979. Due to aging infrastructure, China has launched the Karakoram Highway upgrade project and the second phase of the Karakoram Highway (Haveli Bhattian-Takht-e-Bhai section).
Pakistan National Radio quoted Abdul's statement saying that the new National Highway 15 connecting Mardan and the China border region will connect major northern towns such as Mardan, Naran, and Qillah Aamar Ali. Designed as a four-lane road with two-way traffic, it will be open all year round, suitable for both commercial transportation and winter tourism. According to a brief report released by the Pakistan Ministry of Communications, the new National Highway 15 will be jointly developed through a public-private partnership model. Resorts, hotels, lake scenic areas, and shopping districts will be built along the highway, making it a "new tourism corridor." The Pakistani government aims to complete the construction of this highway within two years.
The Pakistani technology news website TechJuice stated that the original National Highway 15 and the Karakoram Highway both pass through Mardan, but to reach the China border, one still needs to take the latter half of the Karakoram Highway. According to the current plan, the new National Highway 15 is an expansion of the original National Highway 15, aiming to provide a faster and safer alternative route for the Karakoram Highway, enriching the transportation network in northern Pakistan and improving local transportation conditions. "The new National Highway 15 leading to the Pakistan-China border can also enhance trade relations, defense cooperation, and tourism development in the northern border area of Pakistan with the vast Central Asia region. Local communities will benefit from increased business opportunities and improved accessibility."
Original: toutiao.com/article/1850891460389900/
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