ISLAMABAD, Nov 12 (Wealth Pakistan) – The National Highway Authority (NHA) has completed every requirement and will announce tendering for the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project within a month. All international lenders have cleared funding, which means construction can finally begin.
Funding approvals completed
Talking to Wealth Pakistan, NHA Member Aided Projects Ashfaq Ahmad Khan said donor banks held their board meetings in September and October. “These banks have finalised financing for the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project,” he explained. He added that the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) was the last lender to approve funding. “NHA received confirmation of 450 million dollars from IsDB in October,” he said.
Construction timeline
According to Ahmad, physical work on the motorway will start right after the tendering ends. “The NHA management and Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan are committed to start the work without delay,” he noted. The M-6 motorway covers 306 kilometres and is divided into five sections – Hyderabad–Tando Adam, Tando Adam–Nawabshah, Naushero Feroz–Ranipur, Ranipur–Sukkur, and Sukkur–Hyderabad.
Financing and implementation
The first two sections will use the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model if other financing is unavailable. Meanwhile, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) will finance Section III, and IsDB will fund Sections IV and V. As a result, the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project will link major industrial hubs and complete the missing part of the Karachi-Peshawar Motorway. In addition, it will serve as a continuous north-south economic corridor.
Background and rising cost
Previously, NHA had cancelled its agreement with M/s Techno-CMC (TECMC) Private Limited after the company failed to achieve financial close despite repeated extensions. The contract, signed in December 2022 under PPP mode, was worth Rs 307 billion. Now, the total estimated cost of the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project has climbed to 1.7 billion dollars. It was 617 million in 2018 and 1.1 billion in 2022. The increase is mainly due to inflation and design changes.
Economic impact and traffic forecast
The M-6 motorway is a key national project. It will strengthen regional trade routes and reduce travel time between Sindh’s cities. NHA expects about 46 thousand vehicles daily – 34 thousand from N-5 and 11 thousand from N-55. Therefore, the motorway will ease traffic pressure on existing highways and lower transport costs for cargo and passengers.
Karachi linkage through M-10 upgrade
Meanwhile, NHA is upgrading the M-10 Motorway (Karachi Northern Bypass) to connect Karachi directly with the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project at Jamshoro. This extension will create a modern, high-capacity route from Karachi Port to central Pakistan. As a result, freight movement will be faster and more efficient.
Future benefits
Experts believe that the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project will generate thousands of jobs, promote industrial growth and enhance access to markets and services. It will also complete the Karachi-to-Peshawar Motorway network and advance Pakistan’s goal of a fully connected economic corridor.