If you do not fly from Islamabad to Skardu, you have to take the Karakorham Highway (or KKH). The KKH is an amazing road. It was built by the Chinese and it clings to the mountainsides along the Indus River. It is in a constant state of repair. Landslides, washouts, falling rocks and accidents are constant hazards. In fact, Karakorham means crumbling rock.
There are places where you can fall literally hundreds of feet before being swept away by the Indus River. This apple truck overturned rather than go over the edge. Strange, because this is one of the most passable sections of the road.