The road project is related to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, which aims to provide China and Central Asia access to Pakistani ports.
For Pakistan its importance has recently increased following frequent border closures with Afghanistan over political hostilities and security issues.
The strategical importance of this project was reduced when Afghanistan offered Pakistan access to Central Asia via the Afghanistan–Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement.
The QTTA provides Pakistan an alternative gateway to Central Asia by completely circumventing Afghanistan.
It would use the Karakoram Highway which connects Gilgit-Baltistan to China's Xinjiang region, which links to Central Asia.