GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Minister of Planning Fathullah Khan has hailed Chinese Chinese engineers and workers who lost their lives during the construction of the Karakoram Highway (KKH).

He was addressing a ceremony on Monday at Gilgit’s Old Assembly Hall in honour of the victims’ families who arrived from China to visit the graves of their loved ones.

Mr Khan welcomed the guests on behalf of GB Chief Minister Gulbar Khan. Chinese engineers who took part in the construction also attended the event.

The minister said the One Belt One Road project became possible after the sacrifices of labourers and engineers during the KKH construction.

The chief organiser of the Chinese delegation’s visit said veteran engineers and workers are also part of the delegation who have come to “honour our heroes”.

The 42-member delegation arrived in Gilgit-Baltistan through the Khunjerab Pass, the border crossing between Pakistan and China, on Sunday.

They visited the Chinese memorial graveyard in the Danyor area of Gilgit and paid homage to the 200 Chinese engineers and labourers who died during the highway’s construction from 1966 to 1978.

They laid floral wreaths, placed candles, Chinese, gifts and food at the graves and observed moments of silence.

The victims’ families visit the graveyard every year in April. According to Chinese traditions, on April 5, which heralds the arrival of the spring season, relatives lay flowers and other items on their loved ones’ graves and pay their respects.

However, in the last three years, Chinese citizens couldn’t travel to GB due to the closure of the Khunjerab Pass as the Chinese government imposed restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The visit was arranged by Mushtaq Hussain Khan, a representative of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The delegation was also accompanied by the officials of the GB government.

Mr Ahmed told Dawn that a total of 200 Chinese engineers and labourers lost their lives during the construction of KKH, of which 88 were buried in the Danyor graveyard. The bodies of other deceased workers were missing.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2023