Attabad Lake tunnel project inaugurated

Attabad, Pakistan: The newly constructed 24-kilometer portion of Karakorum Highway has been inaugurated after a massive landslide had destroyed it five years ago.

In 2010, a huge landslide had blocked the flow of Hunza River and developed an artificial lake. The disaster had also claimed several lives, submerged surrounding villages and displaced around 25,000 people of the area. Named as “Re-Alignment of Karakorum Highway at Attabad Barrier Lake”, the project has been completed at cost of around US$ 275 million in three years that would restore the road link of Gojal Valley with rest of Gilgit Baltistan.

According to state run news agency APP, the project has been executed by China Road and Bridge Corporation of China and National Highway Authority. The project consists five tunnels with total length of seven kilometers, two bridges and 78 culverts. The tunnels have been named as Pakistan-China Friendship Tunnels. Attabad tunnel project would also help restore an access to the tourists traveling from China to Islamabad through this route. The landslide dam had also hit hard the trade between Pakistan and China and with the completion of the project, trade activity would restore. KKH is considered as wonder of the world as it runs through exceptionally hard terrain.