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Nawaz Sharif opens Pak-China friendship tunnels over Attabad Lake

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday inaugurated the Pakistan-China Friendship Tunnels, which have been constructed with Chinese assistance over the Attabad Lake in Gilgit-Baltistan's Hunza valley.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion, the prime minister 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 portion of the Karakorum Highway (KKH) which was badly damaged in 2010 due to land sliding at Attabad.
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.
NHA officials briefed the prime minister on the details of the project and status of upgradation of other parts of KKH. The prime minister announced the federal government has allocated Rs27 billion for Karakorum development project, which is at least three times larger than the annual development budget of Rs8 billion for Gilgit-Baltistan.
Speaking to the members of G-B Assembly during his visit, the premier said, "Mega development projects are necessary in G-B."
Welcoming the increase in tourism in the area this year, Sharif said, "Around 0.7 to 0.8 million tourists visited G-B this year." "This is the first time such a huge number of tourists from all over the country visited this area in a year," he added.
Sharif 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.
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