ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Division that work on the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6) is scheduled to commence in November 2026.
According to a briefing given by NHA Member Planning and Design Dr Shafique, the 306-kilometre M-6 project has been divided into five sections with an estimated cost of Rs359 billion. Section-I, from Hyderabad to Tando Adam, is 57km long and estimated to cost Rs81 billion, while Section-II, from Tando Adam to Nawabshah, spans 63km at a cost of Rs70 billion. Both sections are planned under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Section-III from Nawabshah to Naushehro Feroz is 65km and costs Rs69 billion, Section-IV from Naushehro Feroz to Ranipur is 61km at Rs68 billion, while Section-V from Ranipur to Sukkur is 60km and costs Rs71 billion.
He informed that The financing arrangements for the project have also substantially progressed. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has signed a $475 million loan agreement for Sections-IV and V, while the OPEC Fund Board has approved $230 million for Section-III.
“The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed an agreement to provide transaction advisory services for Sections-I and II, which are planned under the PPP model. The revised PC-I, amounting to Rs364 billion, has been approved by ECNEC, while land acquisition for the main corridor has also been completed”, he added.
He stated that The procurement process for the three IFI-funded sections is at different stages. For Section-III, bids financed through the OPEC Fund were received on September 2, 2026 and are currently under evaluation, with contract acceptance expected in November.
For Sections-IV and V, bidding documents were issued on July 24, 2026. Bids for Section-IV were opened on September 3 and are under evaluation, while bids for Section-V are scheduled to be opened in October following a delay related to the Grievance Redressal Committee process.
The briefing further stated that tendering for Sections-I and II under the PPP model is planned for November 6, 2026. Bids are expected to be received by December 30, 2026, while award of the concession is targeted for February 4, 2027.
Separately, the committee was briefed about the proposed 169-kilometre, six-lane Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-10), conceived as a new greenfield corridor connecting the two cities. Dr Shafique said the design of the motorway had been prepared by NESPAK and a PC-I had also been prepared.
The meeting was also briefed on the ML-1 project of Pakistan Railways and the K-4 water supply project. The meeting was chaired by MNA Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, who expressed displeasure over the absence of representatives of the Ministry of Finance.
