China, Pakistan Kick Off Economic Corridor Project Despite India's Reservations

[Zarvan]

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China's President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit on November 8. (Agence France-Presse)
Islamabad/Beijing: China and Pakistan have kicked off their multi-billion dollar Economic Corridor project that passes through Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) by laying the foundation of a fenced four-lane motorway.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif performed the groundbreaking of a section of the motorway in the country's northwest on Saturday, setting in motion the mammoth project connecting the two countries.

The 60-km-long four-lane fenced Hazara Motorway in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province would cost US $297 million and take two years to complete.

During his visit to China early this month, Mr Sharif signed deals worth US $45.6 billion which included projects connected with the corridor, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

India has expressed its reservations to China over the corridor as it will pass through the Azad Kashmir. China, meanwhile, defends the project saying it will help in regional development.

During his November 8 visit to China, Mr Sharif has promised full security to Chinese personnel involved in construction of the mammoth project.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called the corridor a "flagship" project to strengthen China's connectivity with neighbouring countries and an initiative set to aid strategic framework for pragmatic cooperation between the two nations.

The two countries should facilitate the development of Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan, strengthen cooperation in energy and electricity projects and the planned industrial parks along the corridor, Li was quoted as saying by the official news agency.

The corridor was proposed in an agreement reached during Li's visit to Pakistan in May 2013.

Planned to connect Kashgar in China's Xinjiang with Pakistan's Gwadar Port in Balochistan province, the corridor is expected to serve as a terminal for China to pump oil procurement from Persian Gulf.
@Horus @Oscar @fatman17 @GURU DUTT @OrionHunter @he-man @nair @SpArK
China, Pakistan Kick Off Economic Corridor Project Despite Indias Reservations - NDTV

 

[root]

Indian media is always felling so much insecure and yet Indian member on PDF say we have not obsessed with Pakistan.

 

[Kompromat]

India is a non player in this project. We don't care what they have to say. They don't want to see a viable Pakistani state, which is understandable.

 

[VCheng]

Sixty kilometers down, only six hundred more to go. Once complete this new KKH would be worth a driving adventure for the entire world for sure.

 

[Echo_419]

India is a non player in this project. We don't care what they have to say. They don't want to see a viable Pakistani state, which is understandable.

Trust me we want that
On topic
As it passes through Azad Kashmir we would obviously raise our concerns which every country does & is a normal Diplomatic Excersice

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Great news hope this corridor is completed soon.. Would bring a lot of economic benefits the region!

 

[root]

Trust me we want that
On topic
As it passes through Azad Kashmir we would obviously raise our concerns which every country does & is a normal Diplomatic Excersice

Your objection does not count Azad Kashmir is ours we can do whatever we want we will shoot your solders on sight if they try to come near Azad Kashmir.

 

[Echo_419]

Your objection does not count Azad Kashmir is ours we can do whatever we want we will shoot your solders on sight if they try to come near Azad Kashmir.

I just said sir this a routine Diplomatic Excersice why make such a fuss about it

 

[WAR-rior]

Your objection does not count Azad Kashmir is ours we can do whatever we want we will shoot your solders on sight if they try to come near Azad Kashmir.

Then why cry when we do stuff on our side? U cite disputed status for ur own benefits. As we say, its a standard practice.

 

[Ray_of_Hope]

Hope this project is completed ASAP

 

[Green Arrow]

What is the completion time for this project?

 

[Rafi]

A total game changer.

 

[rockstar08]

this is indian media and indians reaction , whenever Pakistan do something .

 

[krash]

Sixty kilometers down, only six hundred more to go. Once complete this new KKH would be worth a driving adventure for the entire world for sure.

This stretch is in all probability being built to connect the M1 with Mansehra from where onwards we have the KKH. The name "Hazara Motorway also points towards this. This stretch is a nightmare for any driver with heavy traffic on a two lane road passing through settlements. The 60 km is might be incorrect or just the first phase since the distance from Hasanabdal (M1) to Mansehra is a little more than 90 km.

It could also be a stretch connecting Muzaffarabad (the new Murree express-way) with Mansehra but seems very unlikely since the geography is a lot less feasible for heavy traffic.

The stretch from the Raikot Bridge to the Khunjarab pass (331 km) has already been under expansion for some years (Two lane to four lane). This stretch will remain this way for the foreseeable future. Last I heard, expansion work had also started on the Gilgit-Skardu road.

The remaining stretch from Mansehra to the Raikot Bridge (288 km) is what remains and needs to be expanded and repaired. Some small stretches here are in really bad shape.

However there were alternative plans being rumoured which would connect Mansehra to the KKH at Chilas (A little before the Raikot Bridge) via Balakot, Naran and Babusar Pass. This would reduce the distance between Mansehra and Chilas by about 90 km. A tunnel has been proposed to circumvent Babusar Pass remaining snowed shut during the winters. The article might be mentioning a stretch in this area too, but the road at least till Jalkhad is very decent and newly built however not suitable for heavy traffic.

So out of the total 619 km of the KKH from Mansehra to Khujrab 331 km have been/are being built. The rest is as explained above. All that said NDTV is not a very reliable source.


ps: The KKH has always been a driving adventure for the entire world for sure.

 

[CyberForce786]

What is the completion time for this project?

According to Zarvan It will take 2 years to complete....

The 60-km-long four-lane fenced Hazara Motorway in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province would cost US $297 million and take two years to complete.