The
Karakoram Highway, also known as the
Friendship Highway in China, connects China and Pakistan. The construction of the
Karakoram highway began in 1959
and was
finished and put into operation in 1979. Both the
Chinese and Pakistani governments contributed to the construction of this expressway.
Landslides and collapses claimed the lives of 810 Pakistani employees and 200 Chinese laborers during the construction of the Karakoram highway. There is also a book called 'History of Karakoram Highways' that is based on this Karakoram highway and was written by former Pakistani army Brigadier Muhammad Mumtaz Khalid.
The Karakoram highway is 1300 kilometres long, with 887 kilometres in
Pakistan and 413 kilometres in China. Because it is the highest
paved road in the world, this highway is one of the
finest tourist attractions.
Because of its tough construction conditions and great height, the
Karakoram highway is ranked seventh among the world's marvels. It draws travellers since it passes through some of the
world's greatest glaciers, including the Baltoro and
Siachen Glaciers.
The Karakoram Highway, which runs across the Himalayas at an elevation of more than
15,300 feet, is the highest paved international road in the world. This
roadway is part of Asian Highway 4 (AH4) and is maintained by Pakistan's National Highway Authority and China's Ministry of Transport.