All articles tagged with #karakoram highway
Over 75 years, Pakistan and China have forged a durable, often transactional partnership rooted in a shared rival (India), spanning from the 1963 Shaksgam Valley land transfer and covert nuclear cooperation to the Karakoram Highway and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a bond that remains strategically vital for Beijing but economically and security‑wise costly for Pakistan.
The Karakoram Highway (KKH) is a 1,300km road that cuts through the stunning rock faces of Pakistan's Hunza Valley, often referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." Built by Pakistani and Chinese workers and officially inaugurated in 1978, the KKH has brought trade, tourism, and ease of travel to this remote region. The Hunza Valley, with its unique language, music, and culture, has been mostly cut off from the world until the 20th century. However, efforts are being made to preserve the traditions of the valley, such as the Leif Larsen Music Center that teaches traditional music to the next generation. Female entrepreneurship is thriving in the region, with female-owned restaurants and a female-run carpet factory showcasing the resilience and cultural preservation of the Hunza Valley.