The Pakistani government has successfully secured a $1.6 billion commitment from China to finance the upgrade of the Karakoram Highway (KKH), a vital infrastructure project designed to boost trade routes and connectivity between the two nations. This commitment comes after formal funding requests by Pakistan, and sources reveal that final agreements are on the horizon. Collaborative discussions are underway between Pakistan's Finance Ministry, the Planning and Development Commission, and top Chinese officials. It is expected that a Chinese construction firm will join forces with a local Pakistani company to execute the project, focusing on building robust bridges, stabilizing slopes, and establishing bypass routes around densely populated areas to ensure efficient and safe passage.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif received a project briefing, highlighting the initiative's goals of promoting economic growth, facilitating smoother cargo transport, and improving passenger travel. A high-ranking Pakistani delegation may soon visit China to finalize this critical infrastructure agreement. As part of CPEC Phase-II, four additional agreements covering IT and agricultural services are also anticipated between the two countries.