Pakistan Wants China to Include Babusar Top Tunnel in CPEC Projects
The Government of Pakistan will formally request China to include Babusar Top Tunnel in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) umbrella projects to boost tourism in the northern areas, according to well-informed sources.
The government intends to formally raise the request regarding the inclusion of the 13-km Babusar Top Tunnel in the next meeting of the CPEC Joint Coordination Committee meeting.
During his first visit to the Diamer Basha dam, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the construction of the tunnel on a priority basis. The decision to make it part of the CPEC umbrella project will facilitate the availability of funds and ensure the swift completion of the project, the source said.
The construction of the Babusar Tunnel (N-15) project is being executed by the National Highway Authority (NHA), and the Feasibility Study in this regard has been completed. The government wants to initiate construction work on Babusar Tunnel (N-15) connecting the Kaghan Valley and Chilas, Gilgit Baltistan (GB) on an urgent basis.
Babusar Top stays closed during the winter, and the region remains mostly cut off from the rest of the country. By constructing an underground tunnel on the Babusar pass, the area will be accessible around the year.
While GB is currently a summer destination for tourists, the construction of the tunnel will make it a favorite winter destination.