The Hazara (M-15) Motorway of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has helped bring down the crime rate in Battagram district of KP province by creating the region a hub of tourism-related economic activities.
This was stated by District Police Officer Tariq Mehmood while talking to Gwadar Pro. The district was once known for lawlessness with the local people frequently involving themselves in enmities and incidents of violence against their rivals, together with other crimes.
However, as M-15 has brought enormous economic opportunities, the local people are now more inclined to establish businesses in Battagram, instead of being involved in crimes, he said.
“I don’t claim that crimes have ended totally, but the rate at which the law and order situation is improving here is encouraging and it demonstrates the economic and social impacts of CPEC,” he said.
Battagram has become a starting point for the scenic northern parts of the country, as the historic Karakoram (N-35) Highway merges here into M-15, which leads onwards to Shangla district of KP and Gilgit-Baltistan.
