PESHAWAR: The “silk route” via Gilgit-Hunza to Sinkiang, Samarkand and Bukhara is expected to be reopened when the Indus Valley Road is completed next year.

The road will link Swat and Gilgit and Hazara and Gilgit by an all-weather road, linking it through Hunza with Chinese western provinces and Samarkand and Bukhara. On completion of this road the centuries old trade route between China and areas now comprising West Pakistan will be reopened.

The road is being constructed by Pakistan since about the last 12 years through the most difficult terrain of Kohistan (Hindukush) ranges. The road runs mostly parallel to the Indus River. From Hazara the road enters Swat state and then into Gilgit area. From Rawalpindi to Gilgit the distance is estimated to be about 400 miles.

Brisk trade between Chinese western province Sinkiang and old Turkestan and West Pakistan by road is expected to be developed on completion of this road. — Correspondent

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2018