Convoy system on Karakoram Highway comes to an end, round-the-clock traffic to resume soon
GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan administration has withdrawn notifications that barred passenger and private vehicles from traveling on the Karakoram Highway round-the-clock. The “cut-off-timing” system was put in place after attacks on passenger buses when terrorists shot down dozens of people in separate incidents in 2012 and 2013.
The cut-off-time for travel meant that vehicles could not travel beyond certain points on the highway outside the allowed hours. This resulted in the creation of the much-loathed ‘convoy system’; hundreds of passenger vehicles were forced to travel in the form of a convoy under police protection after the cut-off-time expired every day.
According to a new notification, vehicles will now be able to travel on the KKH at the time of their choosing.
Astore-Diamer Division police has been advised to submit a security plan, before the new arrangement can come in effect. The GB Home Department has also requested its counterparts in KP province to ensure security of the vehicles in the Hazara Division region.
