MANSEHRA, April 10: China will extend a $70 million aid to for construction of new bridges and improvement and widening of the famous Silk route, the Karakortam Highway (KKH) and an agreement in this regard will be inked between the government of Pakistan and China within next couple of days.

According to the National Highway Authority sources, a three-member delegation of the Chinese government and the high officials of the NHA visited the KKH three days ago and attended a briefing on widening and improvement of the KKH.

The delegation according to sources of the NHA was briefed in detail about the dilapidated condition of the KKH constructed 30 years ago due to which the traffic on the KKH is becoming difficult with the passage of time.

Besides the improvement and widening of the KKH, widening of existing bridges and construction of new bridges at different points was also deliberated.

It is also learnt that the KKH will be linked with the newly constructed Mansehra to Naran and Jalkhad road at Jalkjad which will reduce the time of journey between China and Pakistan from four to five hours via Kaghan valley.