The Karakoram Highway spans 460 kilometers in Pakistan, and more than 300 kilometers of it have been constructed with the help of China. Despite its relatively short length, the immense difficulties encountered by those building it has earned the highway the nickname of the "Eighth Wonder of the World".
In 1965, 25-year-old Munawar, deeply moved by the friendship between China and Pakistan, was without hesitation to help build the highway. Like many families in Pakistan, Munawar’s mother and wife were reluctant to let him embark on such a challenging journey. However, Munawar reassured them before bidding them farewell.
For the next five years, Munawar worked alongside his Chinese colleagues, helping to carve out more than 20 kilometers of road through the mountains. After the highway was completed, Munawar and his family excitedly took a car ride to visit his grandfather in Kaiga. The journey, which used to take about 10 hours on foot, was now just a 30-minute drive.
In 1999, Munawar's 11-year-old son Mian travelled to school along the same road his father had helped build. In 2016, after earning a master's degree in human resources, Mian began working at an educational institution in Abbottabad. A year later, when he heard that China Energy Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (Energy China) was building the DASU Hydropower Station to help solve Pakistan's electricity shortages, Mian made a decisive choice – he left his job to join Energy China, taking on a role in human resources management at the DASU project.
Growing up in the mountainous regions of Pakistan, Mian knew well that the living and working conditions at DASU would be far less comfortable than in the city. However, the deep-rooted China-Pakistan friendship, instilled in him from a young age, drove him on. This bond motivated Mian to continue the mission his father once shared with his Chinese counterparts – to foster the enduring China-Pakistan friendship.
When Mian first joined the DASU project's HR department, he expected his master's degree would make the job relatively easy. However, he quickly faced challenges.
Now, after more than two years at DASU, Mian has become more confident and adept in his role. When asked about his hopes for the future, he said that he looks forward to the completion of the DASU project.
Munawar's young grandson, Mian's nephew, is now nine years old. Like his uncle before him, he will travel along the road built by his grandfather Munawar, leaving home to seek a brighter future.
Although he may not yet grasp the deep significance of the family's connection with China, the stories passed down through generations have already inspired him to dream of studying in China.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
