Islamabad: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has announced plans to significantly upgrade the Karachi Northern Bypass as part of a broader initiative to improve regional connectivity under the M-10 Motorway project.
During a recent meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications, chaired by MNA Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, NHA Chairman Muhammad Shehryar Sultan stated that the Northern Bypass will be expanded into an eight-lane motorway. This 34-kilometre stretch will run from the ICI Bridge to Hamdard University Chowk, Madinat al-Hikmah, and is aimed at easing the growing volume of traffic between Karachi Port and upcountry dry ports.
The upgraded bypass will eventually integrate with a newly proposed 134-kilometre M-10 Motorway that will pass through the Khirthar mountain range, connecting Karachi to the M-6 Motorway at Jamshoro. This new route will feature six lanes and is expected to enhance north-south trade and passenger mobility while easing congestion within Karachi city limits.
According to NHA officials, the remaining 23-kilometre section of the existing bypass — from Hamdard University Chowk to the M-9 Motorway — will also be widened into a six-lane road. The entire upgrade project is currently undergoing a feasibility study by NESPAK, with consultant selection in progress.
The committee noted that once completed, the project will help resolve longstanding traffic bottlenecks in the city and ensure smoother, safer, and faster transit between Karachi and interior Sindh.
In the same meeting, committee members raised concerns over repeated toll rate hikes by the NHA, noting that the authority had revised rates three times in a short span—contrary to its stated policy of a three-year interval. The committee directed the NHA to submit a detailed justification at the next session.
Motorway Police officials also briefed the committee on enforcement of speed limits under Section 279 of the Pakistan Penal Code, stating that FIRs are now registered against drivers exceeding 150 km/h. This legal approach, they said, has contributed to a notable reduction in motorway accidents over the past five months. However, the committee signalled an interest in replacing such criminal penalties with stricter financial fines and license suspensions and asked for further consultations with political parties.
Additional issues discussed included the placement of two toll plazas within a 5-kilometre stretch on the M-9 Motorway, a move that contradicts existing policy. The NHA clarified that toll plazas are allowed on major bridges regardless of spacing. Still, the committee requested a full list of bridges currently hosting toll plazas and asked the NHA to conduct an inquiry into the poor condition of the bridge in question near Hyderabad, including photo and video evidence.
Regarding the long-delayed M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, the NHA reported that construction is expected to begin in April 2026 with funding from the Islamic Development Bank. Land acquisition is slated to commence soon, pending approval from the Sindh government.
Lastly, the committee requested an update on how a previously disqualified contractor was awarded a PKR 166 billion contract under the CAREC Tranche-III project and asked the NHA to coordinate with the Senate Standing Committee on Communications for further clarity.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Communications and its attached departments were present during the meeting.
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