Construction on all five sections of the much-anticipated Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6) will finally start within the current financial year, as per National Highways Authority (NHA) Chairman Muhammad Shehryar Sultan.
Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Communications, Sultan said that while Rs 15 billion has been allocated for M-6 in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the amount will primarily go towards project management and supervision rather than immediate physical construction. Actual work is expected to initiate by March or April 2026, once financial arrangements with global partners are finalized.
Travelling between 2 largest cities of the Sindh will be easier
The 306-kilometre M-6, a critical missing link of the Karachi–Peshawar Motorway, has an updated cost estimate of Rs 363.70 billion and a planned construction timeline of 30 months. The project will not only ease travel between Sindh’s two largest cities but also play a vital role in boosting trade and regional connectivity.
Development of section 1 and 2 under PPP
To ensure timely execution, the NHA has adopted a multi-financier approach. Sections 1 and 2 will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) serving as transaction advisor. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is anticipated to provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to make the project financially sustainable.
Read more: Two new interchanges to connect Ravi riverfront city with major motorways
For Section 3, funding commitments are likely from the OPEC Fund and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD). Meanwhile, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has highlighted support of $475 million for Sections 4 and 5, ensuring that all five sections can move on in parallel.
During the meeting, the committee also analyzed the Sehwan Bypass under the CAREC Tranche-1 project. However, it was clarified that since the current Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project is almost near to final process of completion, the bypass cannot be included. Instead, the committee recommended preparing a separate PC-I for inclusion in the next PSDP.
M-6: Gamechanger for Sindh
Officials stressed that the M-6 will be a game-changer for Sindh, reducing travel time, cutting transport costs, and linking communities across the province with improved accessibility.