Islamabad: The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has approved a financing package worth USD 475 million for the M-6 Sukkur–Hyderabad Motorway, a key segment of Pakistan’s north–south transport corridor.
According to details, the approval was granted by the IsDB’s Board of Executive Directors on Tuesday. The 306-kilometre six-lane motorway will complete a critical missing link in the Karachi–Peshawar route, which forms part of the Eastern Alignment of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The project, estimated at USD 1.7 billion, will include 89 bridges, 15 interchanges, and 243 underpasses, with a designed speed limit of up to 120 km/h. Physical construction is expected to begin in April 2026, while the Sindh government has already initiated land acquisition. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed officials to fast-track the transfer of both state and private land, as earlier delays were largely caused by litigation.
In addition, the M-10 Motorway (Karachi Northern Bypass) is being upgraded and extended to directly connect with the M-6 at Jamshoro, creating a high-capacity route for passenger and freight traffic from Karachi Port.
The M-6 project has faced multiple delays due to financing hurdles, with costs rising from USD 617 million in 2018 to USD 1.1 billion in 2022, and now reaching USD 1.7 billion. The government has prioritized the project in the Public Sector Development Programme for 2025–26 and is engaging with international financiers, including IsDB, the Saudi Fund for Development, and the Asian Development Bank, to bridge the funding gap.
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