Hyderabad-Sukkur M-6 Motorway Construction Set to Begin in November 2026
Construction of Pakistan’s long-delayed Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6) is scheduled to begin in November 2026, according to a briefing by the National Highway Authority (NHA) to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Division.
The approximately 306-kilometre motorway is one of the most important missing sections of Pakistan’s north-south motorway network. Once completed, it will provide a motorway connection between Hyderabad and Sukkur, linking the existing M-9 and M-5 corridors.
The project has been divided into five sections and carries an estimated overall cost of around Rs359 billion, according to information presented to the committee.
When Will Construction of M-6 Begin?
NHA officials told the National Assembly committee that construction work on the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway is scheduled to start in November 2026.
An earlier update from the National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications had said work was expected to commence by the end of October 2026, with committee members planning to visit the project site and attend its groundbreaking ceremony.
The latest NHA briefing therefore places the expected construction start in November.
M-6 Motorway Will Be Around 306 KM Long
The planned M-6 will run for approximately 306 kilometres between Hyderabad and Sukkur.
It is being developed as a six-lane controlled-access motorway and has been divided into five construction packages.
According to the project details presented to the committee, the sections are:
| Section | Route | Length | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section I | Hyderabad – Tando Adam | 57 km | Rs81 billion |
| Section II | Tando Adam – Nawabshah | 63 km | Rs70 billion |
| Section III | Nawabshah – Naushehro Feroze | 65 km | Rs69 billion |
| Section IV | Naushehro Feroze – Ranipur | 61 km | Rs68 billion |
| Section V | Ranipur – Sukkur | 60 km | Rs71 billion |
Together, these packages amount to an estimated Rs359 billion.
A revised PC-I valued at approximately Rs364 billion has also reportedly received approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
How Will the M-6 Motorway Be Financed?
Different financing arrangements are being used for different sections of the project.
Sections I and II, covering Hyderabad to Nawabshah through Tando Adam, are planned under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) structure.
The remaining three sections are being supported through international financing.
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has signed a financing agreement worth approximately $475 million for Sections IV and V.
The OPEC Fund for International Development has approved approximately $230 million for Section III.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is also involved as transaction adviser for the PPP sections of the motorway.
This financing structure allows different parts of the motorway to move through procurement and construction under separate arrangements rather than relying on a single funding source.
Land Acquisition for Main Corridor Completed
One significant development is that land acquisition for the main M-6 corridor has reportedly been completed.
Land acquisition can be a major source of delays for large infrastructure projects because construction cannot fully proceed until the required right-of-way is available.
Completion of this stage removes one important administrative hurdle, although procurement, contract awards, financing conditions and construction mobilization still determine when individual sections physically move into construction.
Procurement Already Underway
Procurement is at different stages across the motorway’s five sections.
For Section III — Nawabshah to Naushehro Feroze — bids were received on September 2, 2026 and are undergoing evaluation.
Contract acceptance for this section is expected in November.
Bidding documents have also been issued for Sections IV and V.
Because individual packages are following separate procurement processes, construction activity may not begin simultaneously across the entire 306-kilometre corridor.
The November target should therefore be understood as the planned commencement of the M-6 project rather than necessarily meaning that all five sections will enter full-scale construction on the same day.
Why Is the M-6 Motorway Important?
The M-6 is significant because it would close a major gap in Pakistan’s motorway system.
At present, motorway connectivity from Karachi toward northern Pakistan is interrupted between Hyderabad and Sukkur.
The M-9 connects Karachi with Hyderabad, while the M-5 connects Sukkur with Multan. From Multan, Pakistan’s motorway network continues toward Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar through other motorway links.
Building the M-6 would connect these existing corridors.
That would create a much more continuous controlled-access road network for passenger vehicles and freight moving between southern Sindh and the rest of the country.
Potential Benefits for Freight and Trade
The Hyderabad-Sukkur corridor is particularly important for freight movement because Karachi and Port Qasim handle a substantial share of Pakistan’s international cargo.
Goods moving north from the ports depend heavily on the country’s road network.
A controlled-access motorway could improve journey reliability by separating long-distance motorway traffic from the mixed local traffic commonly encountered on conventional highways.
Potential benefits include:
- More predictable travel times
- Improved connectivity between Karachi and northern Pakistan
- Faster movement of freight
- Reduced pressure on sections of the N-5 National Highway
- Improved connectivity for cities across interior Sindh
- Better integration of Pakistan’s north-south transport network
The extent of those benefits will ultimately depend on the motorway’s completion, toll structure, maintenance and actual traffic patterns.
M-6 Has Faced Years of Delays
The Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway has been discussed for years, but financing and implementation challenges have repeatedly delayed progress.
That history makes the latest construction timetable significant, but the November date remains a planned start date.
Large infrastructure projects can still encounter changes in procurement schedules, financing, contractor mobilization and implementation.
Progress on individual construction packages will therefore be more important than the groundbreaking date alone in determining whether the project stays on schedule.
What Happens Next?
The immediate milestones will involve completing procurement and awarding contracts for the individual sections.
Section III is particularly important because bids have already been submitted and contract acceptance is expected in November.
Meanwhile, the internationally financed sections and PPP packages will continue through their respective procurement processes.
Once completed, the M-6 would fill the remaining motorway gap between Hyderabad and Sukkur and significantly strengthen Pakistan’s north-south road corridor.
For now, November 2026 is the latest announced target for construction to begin, while the pace at which all five sections move into full construction will depend on procurement and contract implementation.