Karakoram Highway to Get Major Route Change Between Thakot and Raikot
Pakistan has allocated Rs. 5 billion in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for relocating a 102-kilometer section of the Karakoram Highway between Thakot and Raikot. The project has an estimated total cost of Rs. 502.6 billion and aims to maintain uninterrupted connectivity along the Indus corridor.
Why the Karakoram Highway Is Being Relocated
The relocation is required because sections of the existing Karakoram Highway are expected to be affected by major dam projects being developed along the Indus River.
The project will realign vulnerable sections of the N-35 route to ensure the highway remains operational as reservoir construction changes the surrounding landscape.
The Karakoram Highway is a key transport route connecting northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan with the rest of Pakistan.