![AerialViewofKarakoramHighway](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/AerialViewofKarakoramHighway.jpg)
The Karakoram Highway ( ur, , translit=śāhirāh qarāquram; known by its initials KKH, also known as N-35 or National Highway 35 ( ur, ) or the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway) is a
national highway which extends from
Hasan Abdal
Hasan Abdal ( Punjabi, ur, ), is a city in the Attock District of Punjab Province in Pakistan, located 40 km northwest of the country's capital city, Islamabad. Hassan Abdal is the headquarters of Hasan Abdal Tehsil (sub-district).
As home ...
in the
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
province of
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
to the
Khunjerab Pass
Khunjerab Pass (; ; ug, قونجىراپ ئېغىزى) is a mountain pass in the Karakoram Mountains, in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan (Gilgit–Baltistan's Hunza and Nagar Districts) and on the southwest border of Ch ...
in
Gilgit-Baltistan, where it crosses into
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
and becomes
China National Highway 314
China National Highway 314 (G314) (sometimes referred to as Gansu Provincial Highway 314) runs southwest from Urumqi, Xinjiang towards the Khunjerab Pass, which is on the northern border of the Gilgit–Baltistan territory in Pakistan-administe ...
. The highway connects the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (; ps, خېبر پښتونخوا; Urdu, Hindko: خیبر پختونخوا) commonly abbreviated as KP or KPK, is one of the Administrative units of Pakistan, four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, ...
plus
Gilgit-Baltistan with China's
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located in the northwest ...
. The highway is a popular
tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or an exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement.
Types
Places of natural ...
and is one of the highest paved roads in the world, passing through the
Karakoram mountain range, at at maximum elevation of near
Khunjerab Pass
Khunjerab Pass (; ; ug, قونجىراپ ئېغىزى) is a mountain pass in the Karakoram Mountains, in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan (Gilgit–Baltistan's Hunza and Nagar Districts) and on the southwest border of Ch ...
. Due to its high elevation and the difficult conditions under which it was constructed, it is often referred to as the
Eighth Wonder of the World
Eighth Wonder of the World is an unofficial title sometimes given to new buildings, structures, projects, designs or even people that are deemed to be comparable to the seven Wonders of the World.
Candidates for the Eighth Wonder of the World
...
.
The highway is also a part of the
Asian Highway
The Asian Highway Network (AH), also known as the Great Asian Highway, is a cooperative project among countries in Asia and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to improve their connectivity via h ...
AH4
Asian Highway 4 (AH4) is a route of the Asian Highway Network which runs from Novosibirsk, Russia (on AH6)
via Ürümqi, China (on AH5) to Karachi, Pakistan (on AH7).
Associated routes
Russia
* : Novosibirsk (at AH6) - Biysk – Tashanta ...
.
History
![Rakaposhi as seen from the Karakoram Highway near Nagar, Gilgit](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Rakaposhi_as_seen_from_the_Karakoram_Highway_near_Nagar%2C_Gilgit.jpg)
The Karakoram Highway, also known as the Friendship Highway in China, was built by the governments of Pakistan and China. It was started in 1962 and was completed and opened to the public in 1978. Pakistan initially favored routing through
Mintaka Pass
The Mintaka Pass or Mingteke Pass or Mintika Pass() is a mountain pass in the Karakorum Mountains, between Pakistan and Xinjiang in China. In ancient times, the Mintaka Pass and the nearby Kilik Pass, to the west, were the two main access poin ...
. In 1966, China, citing the fact that Mintaka would be more susceptible to air strikes, recommended the steeper Khunjerab Pass instead.
About 810 Pakistanis and about 200 Chinese workers died, mostly in
landslides
Landslides, also known as landslips, are several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, deep-seated slope failures, mudflows, and debris flows. Landslides occur in a variety of environments, ...
and falls, while building the highway. Over 140 Chinese workers who died during the construction are buried in the
Chinese cemetery in Gilgit.
The route of the KKH traces one of the many paths of the ancient
Silk Road.
On the Pakistani side, the road was constructed by
FWO (Frontier Works Organisation), employing the
. The Engineer-in-Chief's Branch of the Pakistani Army completed a project documenting the history of the highway. The book ''History of Karakoram Highway'' was written by Brigadier (Retired) Muhammad Mumtaz Khalid in two volumes. In the first volume, the author discusses the land and the people, the pre-historic communication system in the Northern Areas, the need for an all-weather road link with
Gilgit, and the construction of Indus Valley Road. The second volume records events leading to the conversion of the Indus Valley Road to the Karakoram Highway, the difficulties in its construction, and the role of the Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers and their Chinese counterparts in its construction.
The Highway
The highway, connecting the
Gilgit–Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (; ), formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory, and constituting the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region which has been the subject of a dispute bet ...
region to the ancient
Silk Road, runs approximately from
Kashgar, a city in the
Xinjiang
Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located in the northwest ...
region of China, to
Abbottabad, of Pakistan. An extension of the highway southwest from
Abbottabad, in the form of the
N-35 highway, meets the Grand Trunk Road,
N-5, at
Hasan Abdal
Hasan Abdal ( Punjabi, ur, ), is a city in the Attock District of Punjab Province in Pakistan, located 40 km northwest of the country's capital city, Islamabad. Hassan Abdal is the headquarters of Hasan Abdal Tehsil (sub-district).
As home ...
, Pakistan.
The highway cuts through the
collision zone
A collision zone occurs when tectonic plates meet at a convergent boundary both bearing continental lithosphere. As continental lithosphere is usually not subducted due to its relative low density, the result is a complex area of orogeny involvin ...
between the
Eurasian
Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Ja ...
and
Indian plate
The Indian Plate (or India Plate) is a minor tectonic plate straddling the equator in the Eastern Hemisphere. Originally a part of the ancient continent of Gondwana, the Indian Plate broke away from the other fragments of Gondwana , began ...
s, where China,
Tajikistan
Tajikistan (, ; tg, Тоҷикистон, Tojikiston; russian: Таджикистан, Tadzhikistan), officially the Republic of Tajikistan ( tg, Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон, Jumhurii Tojikiston), is a landlocked country in Centr ...
,
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
, and
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
come within of each other. Owing largely to the extremely sensitive state of the
Kashmir
Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...
conflict between India and Pakistan, the Karakoram Highway has strategic and military importance to these nations, but particularly Pakistan and China.
On 30 June 2006, a
memorandum of understanding was signed between the Pakistani
National Highway Authority
The National Highway Authority (NHA; ur, ) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Communications (Pakistan), Ministry of Communications (MoCom) of Pakistan.
History
In 1978, the Government of Pakistan federalised five important inter-prov ...
(NHA) and China's
State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) to rebuild and upgrade the Karakoram Highway. According to SASAC, the width will be expanded from , and its transport capacity will be increased three times its current capacity. In addition, the upgraded road will be designed to particularly accommodate heavy-laden vehicles and extreme weather conditions.
China and Pakistan are planning to link the Karakoram Highway to the southern port of
Gwadar
Gwadar ( Balochi/ ur, ) is a port city with located on the southwestern coast of Balochistan, Pakistan. The city is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea opposite Oman. Gwadar is the 100th largest city of Pakistan, according to the 2017 ...
in
Balochistan
Balochistan ( ; bal, بلۏچستان; also romanised as Baluchistan and Baluchestan) is a historical region in Western and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. ...
through the Chinese-aided
Gwadar
Gwadar ( Balochi/ ur, ) is a port city with located on the southwestern coast of Balochistan, Pakistan. The city is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea opposite Oman. Gwadar is the 100th largest city of Pakistan, according to the 2017 ...
-
Dalbandin railway, which extends to
Rawalpindi.
On 4 January 2010, the KKH was closed in the
Hunza Valley
The Hunza Valley ( bsk, , Wakhi: '; ur, ) is a mountainous valley in the northern part of the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, formed by the Hunza River, bordering Ishkoman to the northwest, Shigar to the southeast, Afghanistan's Wa ...
, eliminating through traffic to China except by small boats. A massive
landslide upstream from Hunza's capital of
Karimabad created the potentially unstable
Attabad Lake
Attabad Lake ( ur, ) is a lake located in the Gojal region of Hunza Valley in Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. It was created in January 2010 as the result of a major landslide in Attabad. The lake has become one of the biggest tourist attra ...
, which reached in length and over in depth by the first week of June 2010 when it finally began flowing over the landslide dam. The landslide destroyed parts of villages while killing many inhabitants. The subsequent lake displaced thousands and inundated over of the KKH, including the long KKH bridge south of
Gulmit
Gulmit ( Wakhi/ ur, ), also known as Gul-e-Gulmit, is a town that serves as headquarter of the Gojal, also known as Upper Hunza, in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. Gulmit is a centuries-old historic town, with mountains, peaks and glaciers. It is ...
.
It is highly questionable whether the lake, which reached in length in 2011, will drain. Goods from and to further north were transported over the lake by small vessels, to be reloaded onto trucks at the other end. In July 2012, Pakistan began constructing a revised route around the lake at a higher elevation with five new tunnels, with a total length of 7.12 km and two new bridges. The work was contracted out to the China Road & Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and was completed in September 2015.
Pakistani section
![Start Karkoram Highway](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Start_Karkoram_Highway.jpg)
At in length, the Pakistani section of the highway starts at
Abbottabad, although the
N-35 N35 may refer to:
* N35 (Long Island bus)
* Acer N35, a PDA
* Beechcraft N35 Bonanza, an American civil utility aircraft
* French submarine ''N35'', a German submarine surrendered to France after the Second World War
* , a submarine of the Royal ...
of which KKH is now part, officially starts from Hasan Abdal. The highway meets the
Indus River at
Thakot
Thakot or Takot ( ur, ; ps, ) is a tribal town on the Indus River in Battagram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is also one of twenty Union Councils of Battagram District, and one of twelve in Battagram Tehsil. Thakot is located mi ...
and continues along the river until
Jaglot
Juglot or Jaglot (formerly Sai) is a town located in the Gilgit District of Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. It is situated southeast of the capital city of Gilgit on the Karakoram Highway. The town is situated at the junction of three major moun ...
, where the
Gilgit River
The Gilgit River () is a tributary of the Indus River, and flows through the Gupis-Yasin, Ghizer and Gilgit districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Gilgit River starts from Shandur Lake, and joins the Indus River at near towns of Juglot and Bunji ...
joins the
Indus River. This is where three great mountain ranges meet: the
Hindukush
The Hindu Kush is an mountain range in Central and South Asia to the west of the Himalayas. It stretches from central and western Afghanistan, Quote: "The Hindu Kush mountains run along the Afghan border with the North-West Frontier Province ...
, the
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 100 ...
, and the
Karakoram. The western end of the Himalayas, marked by the ninth highest peak in the world,
Nanga Parbat
Nanga Parbat ( ur, ) (; ), known locally as Diamer () which means “king of the mountains”, is the ninth-highest mountain on Earth, its summit at above sea level. Lying immediately southeast of the northernmost bend of the Indus River in ...
, can be seen from the highway. The highway passes through the capital of
Gilgit–Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (; ), formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory, and constituting the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region which has been the subject of a dispute bet ...
,
Gilgit, and continues through the valleys of
Nagar and
Hunza Hunza may refer to:
* Hunza, Iran
* Hunza Valley, an area in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan
** Hunza (princely state), a former principality
** Hunza District, a recently established district
** Hunza River, a waterway
** Hunza Peak, a mou ...
, along the
Hunza River
Hunza River ( ur, ) is the principal river of Hunza in Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan It is formed by the confluence of the Chapursan and Khunjerab ''nalas'' (gorges) which are fed by glaciers. It is joined by the Gilgit River and the Naltar ...
. Some of the highest mountains and famous
glaciers in
Karakoram can be seen in this section. The highway meets the Pakistani-Chinese border at
Khunjerab Pass
Khunjerab Pass (; ; ug, قونجىراپ ئېغىزى) is a mountain pass in the Karakoram Mountains, in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan (Gilgit–Baltistan's Hunza and Nagar Districts) and on the southwest border of Ch ...
.
Karakoram Highway reconstruction
![KKHReconstructions](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/KKHReconstructions.png)
As part of the $46 billion
China Pakistan Economic Corridor
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, reconstruction and upgrade works on the Pakistani portion of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) are underway. The KKH spans the long distance between the China-Pakistan border and the town of
Hasan Abdal
Hasan Abdal ( Punjabi, ur, ), is a city in the Attock District of Punjab Province in Pakistan, located 40 km northwest of the country's capital city, Islamabad. Hassan Abdal is the headquarters of Hasan Abdal Tehsil (sub-district).
As home ...
. At
Burhan Interchange Burhan Interchange is located in the west of Hasan Abdal city in Attock District, Pakistan. It allows the traffic to connect to Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawal Pindi, Haripur , Abbottabad and Mansehra. It is located on M1 motorway
The M1 moto ...
near Hasan Abdal, the existing
M1 motorway
The M1 motorway connects London to Leeds, where it joins the A1(M) near Aberford, to connect to Newcastle. It was the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the UK; the first motorway in the country was the Preston By-pass, which ...
will intersect the Karakoram Highway. From there, access onwards to Islamabad and Lahore continues as part of the existing M1 and M2 motorways, while Hasan Abdal will also be at intersection of the
Eastern Alignment
Eastern may refer to:
Transportation
*China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai
* Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways
* Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991
*Eastern Air ...
, and the
Western Alignment
The Western Alignment refers to the portions of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which are located in the Pakistani provinces of northwestern Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Pakistan, Balochistan.
The ...
which will lead towards the port city of
Gwadar
Gwadar ( Balochi/ ur, ) is a port city with located on the southwestern coast of Balochistan, Pakistan. The city is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea opposite Oman. Gwadar is the 100th largest city of Pakistan, according to the 2017 ...
.
Karakoram Highway Realignment (China-Pakistan Friendship Tunnels)
A large section of the highway was damaged by a landslide in 2010 that created
Attabad Lake
Attabad Lake ( ur, ) is a lake located in the Gojal region of Hunza Valley in Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. It was created in January 2010 as the result of a major landslide in Attabad. The lake has become one of the biggest tourist attra ...
. The resulting landslides cut off both the Hunza River and Karakoram Highway resulting in the formation of the reservoir. Prior to the completion of the bypass, all vehicular traffic had to be loaded onto boats to traverse the new reservoir. Construction of the tunnels began in 2012 and required 36 months for completion. The 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. The route comprises five tunnels and several bridges. The longest tunnel is , followed by , , and , while the Shishkat Great Bridge on
Hunza River
Hunza River ( ur, ) is the principal river of Hunza in Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan It is formed by the confluence of the Chapursan and Khunjerab ''nalas'' (gorges) which are fed by glaciers. It is joined by the Gilgit River and the Naltar ...
is long. The realignment restored the road link between Pakistan and China.
Chinese section
![Karakoram Highway](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Karakoram_Highway_.jpg)
The Chinese section of the Karakoram Highway follows the north-south Sarykol ("Yellow Lake") valley just west of the
Tarim Basin
The Tarim Basin is an endorheic basin in Northwest China occupying an area of about and one of the largest basins in Northwest China.Chen, Yaning, et al. "Regional climate change and its effects on river runoff in the Tarim Basin, China." Hydr ...
. The road from Kashgar goes southwest about and then turns west to enter the Gez (Ghez) River canyon between
Chakragil
Chakragil (or Chagragil, Chakar Aghil, Kingata Tagh r Kingata Tagh II, see below is a major mountain in Xinjiang, China. It is located about southwest of Kashgar, about due north of Muztagh Ata, and northwest of Kongur Tagh."Chagragil", ''Ame ...
mountain on the north and
Kongur Tagh
Kongur Tagh or Kongkoerh ( Kyrgyz: Коңур Тоо; Uyghur: , Коңур Тағ, meaning "Brown Mountain"; mn, Хонгор Таг, (Хонгор/Kongur/Kongur is Mongolian word for the color Mongolians use for Buckskin colored horse) ''Hongor ...
mountain on the south. From the Gez canyon the population becomes Kirgiz. Having climbed up to the valley, the road turns south past Kongur,
Karakul Lake, and
Muztagh Ata on the east. Below Muztagh Ata, a new road goes west over the
Kulma Pass
The Kulma Pass ( Tajik: , ) or Qolma Pass, also referred to as Karasu Pass, is a mountain pass across the Pamir Mountains on the border between Murghob District, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region in Tajikistan and Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous Cou ...
to join the
Pamir Highway
The M41, known informally and more commonly as the Pamir Highway (russian: Памирский тракт, translit=Pamirsky Trakt ), is a road traversing the Pamir Mountains through Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with a ...
in
Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan. The main road continues over a low pass (where the population becomes Tajik) and descends to
Tashkurgan
Tashkurgan ( ug, تاشقورغان بازىرى; zh, s=塔什库尔干镇, p=Tǎshíkù'ěrgān Zhèn; ) is a town in the far northwest of China, close to the country's border with Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It is the principal tow ...
. Further south, a valley and jeep track leads west toward the
Wakhjir Pass
The Wakhjir Pass,Ludwig W. Adamec. Historical and political gazetteer of Afghanistan Vol. 1. Badakhshan Province and northeastern Afghanistan. Graz : Akad. Druck- und Verl.-Anst., 1972.p. 185. also spelled Vakhjir Pass, is a mountain pass in t ...
to the
Wakhan Corridor
The Wakhan Corridor ( ps, واخان دهلېز, translit=wāxān dahléz, fa, دالان واخان, translit=dâlân vâxân) is a narrow strip of territory in Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan, extending to Xinjiang in China and separatin ...
. Next the road turns west to a checkpost and small settlement at Pirali, and then the
Khunjerab Pass
Khunjerab Pass (; ; ug, قونجىراپ ئېغىزى) is a mountain pass in the Karakoram Mountains, in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan (Gilgit–Baltistan's Hunza and Nagar Districts) and on the southwest border of Ch ...
, beyond which is Pakistan, the Khunjerab River and
Hunza Hunza may refer to:
* Hunza, Iran
* Hunza Valley, an area in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan
** Hunza (princely state), a former principality
** Hunza District, a recently established district
** Hunza River, a waterway
** Hunza Peak, a mou ...
.
Major towns near Karakoram Highway
![Cathedral Ridge Passu NEFrontier Pakistan](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Cathedral_Ridge_Passu_NEFrontier_Pakistan.jpg)
*
Rawalpindi Islamabad Pakistan
railhead
In the UK, railheading refers to the practice of travelling further than necessary to reach a rail service, typically by car. The phenomenon is common among commuters seeking a more convenient journey. Reasons for railheading include, but are ...
,
gauge
Gauge ( or ) may refer to:
Measurement
* Gauge (instrument), any of a variety of measuring instruments
* Gauge (firearms)
* Wire gauge, a measure of the size of a wire
** American wire gauge, a common measure of nonferrous wire diameter, ...
*
Hassan Abdal
*
Haripur
*
Abbottabad
*
Mansehra
Mansehra is a city in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Mansehra District. It is the 71st largest city of Pakistan and 7th largest city in the province.
The name of the city (written in Hindko, Urdu and Gojr ...
*
Battagram
Battagram ( ur, , ps, ) is a city and Union Council of Battagram District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. It is located at 34°41'N 73°1'E and has an altitude of 1038 metres (3408 feet).
Climate
With a mild and generally warm a ...
*
Besham
Besham (Urdu, ps, بشام; also known as Besham Qila) is a city in the Shangla District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Located on the right bank of the Indus River (locally known as ''Abasin''), Besham serves as a major junction on the Karak ...
*
Pattan
Pattan is a sub-district, town and a municipal committee in Baramulla district in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Location
Pattan is surrounded by Breng Block towards North, Kunzer block towards the south, Narbal block towa ...
*
Kohistan
Kohistan ( fa, کوہستان, ), also transliterated Kuhistan, Kuhiston, Quhistan, may refer to:
In Afghanistan
*Kohistan District, Kapisa, Kapisa Province
** Kohistan Hesa Awal District, a district in Kapisa Province, created within the form ...
*
Dasu
Dasu or Dassu ( Abasin Kohistani, Urdu and ps, ) is the district headquarters of Upper Kohistan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It had 15 Union Councils before the separation of the Kandia valley. Since its being named as Tehsil, the ...
*
Chilas
*
Juglot
Juglot or Jaglot (formerly Sai) is a town located in the Gilgit District of Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. It is situated southeast of the capital city of Gilgit on the Karakoram Highway. The town is situated at the junction of three major moun ...
*
Gilgit
*
Naltar Valley
The Naltar Valley () is a valley situated about from the city of Gilgit in Gilgit-Baltistan, Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. It is a forested region known for its dramatic mountain scenery and for its three lakes: Strangi Lake, Blue Lake, and Bo ...
*
Nagar
*
Aliabad
*
Gulmit
Gulmit ( Wakhi/ ur, ), also known as Gul-e-Gulmit, is a town that serves as headquarter of the Gojal, also known as Upper Hunza, in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. Gulmit is a centuries-old historic town, with mountains, peaks and glaciers. It is ...
*
Sust
Sost or Sust ( ur, ) is a village in Gojal, Upper Hunza, Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan. It is the last town inside Pakistan on the Karakoram Highway before the Chinese border. It is elevated 2,800 meters above sea level. The town is an import ...
*
Tashkurgan
Tashkurgan ( ug, تاشقورغان بازىرى; zh, s=塔什库尔干镇, p=Tǎshíkù'ěrgān Zhèn; ) is a town in the far northwest of China, close to the country's border with Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It is the principal tow ...
(China)
*
Upal
Upal ( zh, s=乌帕尔镇; ug, ئوپال) is a town in Shufu County in Western Xinjiang, China.
Karakoram Highway
Today Upal is on the Karakoram Highway, which follows the old Silk Road route from China to Pakistan. Travelling from China, it ...
(China)
*
Kashgar, Chinese
railhead
In the UK, railheading refers to the practice of travelling further than necessary to reach a rail service, typically by car. The phenomenon is common among commuters seeking a more convenient journey. Reasons for railheading include, but are ...
,
gauge
Gauge ( or ) may refer to:
Measurement
* Gauge (instrument), any of a variety of measuring instruments
* Gauge (firearms)
* Wire gauge, a measure of the size of a wire
** American wire gauge, a common measure of nonferrous wire diameter, ...
Tourism
In recent years the highway has sought to become a 'niche'
adventure tourism
Adventure travel is a type of niche tourism, involving exploration or travel with a certain degree of risk (real or perceived), and which may require special skills and physical exertion. In the United States, adventure tourism has grown in r ...
destination although Pakistan attracts few international tourists compared to domestic ones. But in recent years, owing to the improved security situation in the country, the number of foreign tourists coming to Pakistan has more than tripled since 2013, standing at 1.75 million in 2016.
Among the tourist destinations in the country, KKH is deemed as the "third best" by ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
''. The road has given
mountaineers
Mountaineering or alpinism, is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending tall mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas. Indoor climbing, sport climbin ...
and cyclists easier access to the many high mountains, glaciers, and lakes in the area. The highway provides access to
Gilgit and
Skardu
, nickname =
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Gilgit Baltistan#Pakistan
, pushpin_label_position ...
from
Islamabad
Islamabad (; ur, , ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's ninth-most populous city, with a population of over 1.2 million people, and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital ...
by road. These are the two major hubs for mountaineering expeditions in the
Gilgit–Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (; ), formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory, and constituting the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region which has been the subject of a dispute bet ...
region of
Pakistan administered Kashmir
Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompass ...
.
The Gilgit–Baltistan Administration of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the Xinjiang Administration of China have signed an agreement to issue border passes to their permanent residents. This pass is valid for a calendar year and is used to travel through Khunjerab Pass only. Karakoram Highway has been described as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. KKH provides a cross country road trip from Hasan Abdal, Pakistan to Kashghar.
Naltar Valley
The Naltar Valley () is a valley situated about from the city of Gilgit in Gilgit-Baltistan, Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. It is a forested region known for its dramatic mountain scenery and for its three lakes: Strangi Lake, Blue Lake, and Bo ...
is one of the most scenic valleys accessed via Karakoram Highway. The valley offers snow clad mountains, sky high peaks, alpine ski slopes, high altitude lakes, glaciers and mountain passes. Bishgiri Lake is one of the highest lakes in Pakistan. While Pakora Pass is famous for its glaciers and meadows.
Mountains and glaciers
![Baltistan](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Baltistan.jpg)
Karakoram Highway provides the pathway to expeditions for almost all peaks in
Gilgit–Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (; ), formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory, and constituting the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region which has been the subject of a dispute bet ...
, Kashmir and several peaks in
Xinjiang
Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located in the northwest ...
China. The region includes some of the world's largest glaciers like the
Baltoro and Siachen Glaciers. Two of the
Eight-thousanders (mountains taller than ) of the world that are in
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
are accessible by the highway. The notable mountains that can be directly seen while travelling on the highway are:
*
Nanga Parbat
Nanga Parbat ( ur, ) (; ), known locally as Diamer () which means “king of the mountains”, is the ninth-highest mountain on Earth, its summit at above sea level. Lying immediately southeast of the northernmost bend of the Indus River in ...
, Gilgit–Baltistan, 9th highest of the world at
*
Rakaposhi
Rakaposhi ( ur, ) is a mountain in the Karakoram mountain range of the Gilgit-Baltistan territory of Pakistan.
Geography
Rakaposhi is a mountain in the Karakoram mountain range in the Gilgit-Baltistan territory of Pakistan, about north of the ...
, Gilgit–Baltistan, 27th highest of the world at
*
Diran
Diran ( ur, دیرن) is a mountain in the Karakoram range in Nagar Valley and Bagrot Valley Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. This pyramid shaped mountain lies to the east of Rakaposhi (7,788m).
Diran is the most dangerous mountain in Pakistan ...
, Gilgit–Baltistan, most dangerous mountain in
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
* Shishpar, Gilgit–Baltistan
*
Ultar Peak
Ultar Sar () (also Ultar, Ultar II, Bojohagur Duanasir II) is the
southeasternmost major peak of the Batura Muztagh, a subrange of the Karakoram range. It lies about northeast of the Karimabad, a town on the Karakoram Highway in the Hunza Va ...
, Gilgit–Baltistan
* Tupopdan, Gilgit–Baltistan, also known as Cathedral Peaks near
Passu
Passu ( ur, ) is a small village located in Gojal valley upper Hunza of the Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan region of Northern Pakistan. Situated along the Karakoram Highway in Upper Hunza, Pakistan, Passu is a popular tourist destination in Pakis ...
Many glaciers can be seen while travelling on the highway:
* Minapin Glacier
*
Passu Glacier
Passu Glacier is situated in the south side of Passu village. Passu Peak is situated in the back side of the glacier. This glacier is linked with Batura Glacier and many other glaciers in Batura Muztagh mountain range.
See also
* Passu Sar
* ...
* Ghulkin Glacier
* Khunjerab Glacier
Rivers and lakes
Several rivers and lakes are made accessible by the highway. These include:
*
Indus River
*
Hunza River
Hunza River ( ur, ) is the principal river of Hunza in Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan It is formed by the confluence of the Chapursan and Khunjerab ''nalas'' (gorges) which are fed by glaciers. It is joined by the Gilgit River and the Naltar ...
*
Attabad Lake
Attabad Lake ( ur, ) is a lake located in the Gojal region of Hunza Valley in Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. It was created in January 2010 as the result of a major landslide in Attabad. The lake has become one of the biggest tourist attra ...
*
Gilgit River
The Gilgit River () is a tributary of the Indus River, and flows through the Gupis-Yasin, Ghizer and Gilgit districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Gilgit River starts from Shandur Lake, and joins the Indus River at near towns of Juglot and Bunji ...
*
Khunjerab River ''Khunjerab'' may refer to:
*Khunjerab Pass, the highest paved road crossing of an international border in the world, between China and Pakistan
* Khunjerab Valley
* Khunjerab River
*Khunjerab National Park
Khunjerab National Park () is a nat ...
*
Karakul Lake in Xinjiang (China)
Rock art and petroglyphs
![Shattial Carvings](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Shattial_Carvings.JPG)
There are more than 50,000 pieces of rock art and
petroglyphs all along the highway that are concentrated at ten major sites between
Hunza Hunza may refer to:
* Hunza, Iran
* Hunza Valley, an area in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan
** Hunza (princely state), a former principality
** Hunza District, a recently established district
** Hunza River, a waterway
** Hunza Peak, a mou ...
and
Shatial
Shatial is a transit station with archaeological significance on Karakoram Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
Location
Shatial is an important transit station consisting mainly of shops, rest places, and sarais. It is located west of Chilas ...
. The carvings were left by invaders, traders, and
pilgrims who passed along the trade route, as well as by locals. The earliest date back to between 5000 and 1000 BC, showing single animals, triangular men, and hunting scenes in which the animals are larger than the hunters. These
carvings
Carving is the act of using tools to shape something from a material by scraping away portions of that material. The technique can be applied to any material that is solid enough to hold a form even when pieces have been removed from it, and ...
were pecked into the rock with stone tools and are covered with a thick
patina that yields their age.
Travel
There are several transport companies in Pakistan that offer bus service between major towns of the highway and from
Rawalpindi and
Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city ...
. The largest company is
Northern Areas Transport Corporation
Northern Areas Transport Corporation or NATCO ( ur, ) is the largest transport company in Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan and Karakoram Highway, throughout the Northern Areas. Natco is providing its service from Rawalpindi to Karachi daily for las ...
(NATCO). Other companies are Masherbrum Travel, Silk Route Travel, K-2 movers, Anchan Travel, and Saeed Travel.
Bus service between Gilgit and Kashghar
On 1 June 2006, daily bus service began between
Gilgit,
Gilgit–Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (; ), formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory, and constituting the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region which has been the subject of a dispute bet ...
, and
Kashghar
Kashgar ( ug, قەشقەر, Qeshqer) or Kashi ( zh, c=喀什) is an oasis city in the Tarim Basin region of Southern Xinjiang. It is one of the westernmost cities of China, near the border with Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan ...
, Xinjiang, through the
Sust
Sost or Sust ( ur, ) is a village in Gojal, Upper Hunza, Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan. It is the last town inside Pakistan on the Karakoram Highway before the Chinese border. It is elevated 2,800 meters above sea level. The town is an import ...
and
Tashkorgan border area.
Climate
![The beautiful Karakoram Highway](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/The_beautiful_Karakoram_Highway.jpg)
The KKH is best travelled in the spring or early autumn. Heavy snow during harsh winters can shut the highway down for extended periods. Heavy
monsoon
A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...
rains around July and August cause occasional
landslides
Landslides, also known as landslips, are several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, deep-seated slope failures, mudflows, and debris flows. Landslides occur in a variety of environments, ...
that can block the road for hours or more. The border crossing between China and
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
at
Khunjerab Pass
Khunjerab Pass (; ; ug, قونجىراپ ئېغىزى) is a mountain pass in the Karakoram Mountains, in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan (Gilgit–Baltistan's Hunza and Nagar Districts) and on the southwest border of Ch ...
is open only between 1 May and 31 December.
Alternate road (Xinjiang-GB-Azad Kashmir road)
The proposed Xinjiang-GB-Azad Kashmir road would be linked to
Yarkant County
Yarkant County,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency also Shache County,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency also transliterated from Uyghur as Yakan County, is a county in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous ...
in
Xinjiang
Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located in the northwest ...
, and enter
Gilgit-Baltistan through
Mustagh Pass
The Mustagh Pass or Muztagh Pass () is a mountain pass across the Baltoro Muztagh range in the Karakorams which includes K2, the world's second highest mountain. The crest of the Baltoro Muztagh marks the present border between Pakistani and Ch ...
, 126 km west of
Ladakh
Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. (subscription required) Quote: "Jammu ...
, crossing the major supply artery from the Karakoram Highway near
Skardu
, nickname =
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Gilgit Baltistan#Pakistan
, pushpin_label_position ...
city. From there, it would run south through the high-altitude Deosai Plateau to the
Astore Valley
The Astore Valley (; el. ) is a valley located in the Astore District of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
History
According to '' The Imperial Gazetteer of India'', around 1600:
See also
* Nasirabad (Hunza)
* Rupal Valley
* Tarishing
* Nanga ...
. A road tunnel is proposed to be constructed through the mountains to connect Astore to the
Neelum Valley in the
Azad Kashmir region.
See also
*
Attabad Lake
Attabad Lake ( ur, ) is a lake located in the Gojal region of Hunza Valley in Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. It was created in January 2010 as the result of a major landslide in Attabad. The lake has become one of the biggest tourist attra ...
*
Edicts of Ashoka
The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of more than thirty inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls, attributed to Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire who reigned from 268 BCE to 232 BCE. Ashoka used the exp ...
*
Gilgit
*
Gilgit–Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (; ), formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory, and constituting the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region which has been the subject of a dispute bet ...
*
Hunza Valley
The Hunza Valley ( bsk, , Wakhi: '; ur, ) is a mountainous valley in the northern part of the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, formed by the Hunza River, bordering Ishkoman to the northwest, Shigar to the southeast, Afghanistan's Wa ...
*
Karakoram
*
Karakoram Pass
The Karakoram Pass () is a mountain pass between India and China in the Karakoram Range. It is the highest pass on the ancient caravan route between Leh in Ladakh and Yarkand in the Tarim Basin. 'Karakoram' literally means 'Black Gravel' ...
*
Kashghar
Kashgar ( ug, قەشقەر, Qeshqer) or Kashi ( zh, c=喀什) is an oasis city in the Tarim Basin region of Southern Xinjiang. It is one of the westernmost cities of China, near the border with Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan ...
*
Kashmir
Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...
*
Jammu–Baramulla line
The Jammu–Baramulla line is a railway track being laid to connect the Kashmir Valley in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir with Jammu railway station and thence to the rest of the country. The 356 km railway track will star ...
*
Ladakh
Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. (subscription required) Quote: "Jammu ...
*
Leh–Manali Highway
The Leh–Manali Highway is a long highway in northernmost India connecting Leh, the capital of the Union Territory of Ladakh, to Manali in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It connects the Manali Solang valley to the Lahaul and Spiti va ...
*
Araniko Highway
The Araniko Highway () connects Kathmandu with Kodari, northeast of the Kathmandu Valley, on the Nepal-China border. It is among the most dangerous of highways in Nepal due to extremely steep slopes on each side of the road from Barabise onwa ...
*
NH 22 – An alternate route for access to the Arabian Sea from China
India-China Bhai Bhai revisited
/ref>
* National Highways of Pakistan
National Highways of Pakistan ( ur, ) are a network of toll highways in Pakistan, which are owned, maintained and operated by the National Highways Authority under the Ministry of Communications. It maintains of roadways organized into various ...
* Pamir Highway
The M41, known informally and more commonly as the Pamir Highway (russian: Памирский тракт, translit=Pamirsky Trakt ), is a road traversing the Pamir Mountains through Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with a ...
* Shandur Shandur Pass( ur, ) is a pass located in Ghizer, District of Gilgit Baltistan . It is often called 'Roof of the World.
During the annual ' Shandur Polo Festival,' there are polo matches played in Shandur Polo Ground on Shandur Top, between the ...
* Silk Road (section "Overland routes")
* Skardu
, nickname =
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Gilgit Baltistan#Pakistan
, pushpin_label_position ...
* Xinjiang
Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located in the northwest ...
Notes
References
External links
Video of Karakoram Highway
* Urdu:''
Safar_Hai_Shart
_A_documentary_on_Karakoram_Highway_8th_wonder_of_the_world.html" ;"title="Safar Hai Shart">Safar_Hai_Shart">Safar_Hai_Shart_A_documentary_on_Karakoram_Highway_8th_wonder_of_the_world
History_of_KKH_by_Brigadier_(Retired)_Mumtaz_Khalid_(Pakistan_Army_Corps_of_Engineers)
Blankonthemap
The_Northern_Kashmir_WebSite
Burzine_Waghmar's_notes_on_the_KKH_and_review_of_Tahir_Jahangir
A_Travel_Companion_to_the_Northern_Areas_of_Pakistan,_OUP,_2004
Northern_Areas_Development_Gateway
Pakistan's_Northern_Areas
A_good_brief_description_of_the_highway
Photographic_Account_of_Journey_through_KKH
Karakoram_Highway_Road_Trip_Cross_Country_Adventure_In_Gilgit_Baltistan
{{Authority_control
_A_documentary_on_Karakoram_Highway_8th_wonder_of_the_world">Safar_Hai_Shart">Safar_Hai_Shart_A_documentary_on_Karakoram_Highway_8th_wonder_of_the_world
History_of_KKH_by_Brigadier_(Retired)_Mumtaz_Khalid_(Pakistan_Army_Corps_of_Engineers)
Blankonthemap
The_Northern_Kashmir_WebSite
Burzine_Waghmar's_notes_on_the_KKH_and_review_of_Tahir_Jahangir
A_Travel_Companion_to_the_Northern_Areas_of_Pakistan,_OUP,_2004
Northern_Areas_Development_Gateway
Pakistan's_Northern_Areas
A_good_brief_description_of_the_highway
Photographic_Account_of_Journey_through_KKH
Karakoram_Highway_Road_Trip_Cross_Country_Adventure_In_Gilgit_Baltistan
{{Authority_control
Roads_in_Pakistan">N-35_N35_may_refer_to:
*_N35_(Long_Island_bus)
*__Acer_N35,_a_PDA
*__Beechcraft_N35_Bonanza,_an_American_civil_utility_aircraft
*__French_submarine_''N35'',_a_German_submarine_surrendered_to_France_after_the_Second_World_War
*_,_a_submarine_of_the_Royal_...
Highways_in_Pakistan.html" "title="Roads_in_Pakistan.html" "title="Safar Hai Shart
A documentary on Karakoram Highway 8th wonder of the world">Safar Hai Shart">Safar Hai Shart
A documentary on Karakoram Highway 8th wonder of the world
History of KKH by Brigadier (Retired) Mumtaz Khalid (Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers)
Blankonthemap
The Northern Kashmir WebSite
Burzine Waghmar's notes on the KKH and review of Tahir Jahangir
A Travel Companion to the Northern Areas of Pakistan, OUP, 2004
Northern Areas Development Gateway
Pakistan's Northern Areas
A good brief description of the highway
Photographic Account of Journey through KKH
Karakoram Highway Road Trip Cross Country Adventure In Gilgit Baltistan
{{Authority control
Roads in Pakistan">N-35 N35 may refer to:
* N35 (Long Island bus)
* Acer N35, a PDA
* Beechcraft N35 Bonanza, an American civil utility aircraft
* French submarine ''N35'', a German submarine surrendered to France after the Second World War
* , a submarine of the Royal ...
Highways in Pakistan">N-35 N35 may refer to:
* N35 (Long Island bus)
* Acer N35, a PDA
* Beechcraft N35 Bonanza, an American civil utility aircraft
* French submarine ''N35'', a German submarine surrendered to France after the Second World War
* , a submarine of the Royal ...
Transport in Xinjiang
Transport in Gilgit-Baltistan
China–Pakistan border crossings
Sites along the Silk Road
Karakoram
Government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto