Tributes were paid to Chinese and Pakistani citizens who died during construction of the Karakoram Highway which connects the two countries.
A ceremony organized by the Chinese embassy was held at the Chinese memorial graveyard in Danyor area of Gilgit to pay homage and remember 800 persons, including 108 Chinese engineers and labourers, who lost their lives during construction of KKH from 1966 to 1978. The Chinese embassy counselor, Li Yuanling, and other officials and nationals of the country, GB Assembly Deputy Speaker Jaffarullah Khan, government officials, relatives of the martyrs, students and business community members attended the ceremony.
The participants observed one minute silence in memory of the martyrs and laid floral wreaths at the Chinese memorial graveyard. GB Board of Investment vice chairman Raja Nazeemul Ameen told Dawn that every year families of the martyrs came from China to offer rituals at their gravesites.
According to Chinese tradition, in April which heralds arrival of spring season, relatives of the dead lay floral wreaths at their graves and bow to pay respects to them, he said, adding this ritual was also an annual feature at the chinese graveyard in Gilgit in April.
Mr. Ameen said the Chinese graveyard had been built in memory of martyrs of KKH, adding the road had played vital role in cementing friendship between Pakistan and China. Addressing the ceremony, Chinese diplomat Li Yuangling said the monument built in the memory of KKH martyrs reminded them of the sacrifices of the people while constructing the road.
We cannot forget their sacrifices, the Pakistan and China friendship is not a simple slogan, it is practical and strong, he said. Mr Yuanling said CPEC had further cemented relations between two countries. Jaffarullah Khan said strong Sino-Pak relations were the result of the sacrifices of the people while building the 8th wonder of the world.
The Karakoram Highway (KKH) is a major engineering project in Pakistan, built with Chinese assistance. The highway was constructed in two phases, from 1966 to 1978, and is 613 kilometers long. Hundreds of Chinese and Pakistani workers died during the construction of the mega project.
Engineers and builders from both China and Pakistan faced tremendous hardship and dangers posed by ice peaks and killer mountains of the Karakoram range.
The KKH has become a reminder of friendship and mutual cooperation between China and Pakistan.
