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Chinese-developed geological disaster prevention technology is now being applied across the entire Karakoram Highway, ensuring the safety and stability of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), officials from Lanzhou University confirmed.
The technology, designed by the university’s geological disaster research team, provides a scientific foundation for the safe operation of the China–Pakistan Friendship Highway, a vital trade route built in the 1960s with Chinese assistance and completed in 1979.
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The highway links Xinjiang (China) with Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan), traversing rugged terrain and some of the world’s highest mountain ranges.
Due to its complex geography, the region faces frequent landslides, floods, and debris flows. In 2022, sections of the highway were severely affected by monsoon-induced floods. To address such risks, Professor Meng Xingmin, who leads Lanzhou University’s research team, said collaboration began in 2017 with COMSATS University Islamabad and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to assess geological risks along the CPEC.
After more than four years of research, scientists completed an environmental assessment and identified potential landslide zones along the route. Two large-scale joint surveys were conducted, analyzing multiple disaster chains such as landslides, debris flows, and blocked lakes.
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Associate Professor Zhang Yi, part of the field team, said the missions were physically demanding, involving harsh weather and remote mountain conditions. “Despite the challenges, we completed the studies successfully and experienced the warmth and cooperation of our Pakistani partners,” he said.
Professor Meng noted that the project not only strengthened China–Pakistan scientific cooperation but also helped train Pakistani PhD students and attracted funding from Gansu Province’s International Cooperation Project. He said future work will focus on assessing climate change impacts and developing large-scale disaster reduction technologies to improve the region’s resilience.
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The initiative underscores China’s continued support for scientific collaboration and sustainable infrastructure under the CPEC, reinforcing the strategic and economic ties between Beijing and Islamabad.
