Urdu Report Desk
Construction of the long-delayed Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) is set to begin in November 2026, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has announced.
The 306-kilometer project was conceived nearly three decades ago and has faced prolonged delays. Khan described the start of construction as a significant development for Sindh and Pakistan’s wider transport and economic connectivity.
Improved Trade and Connectivity
According to Abdul Aleem Khan, the M-6 motorway is expected to provide a boost to commercial activity and economic development by improving connectivity between major cities in Sindh and the country’s motorway network.
He said President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and members of the Sindh cabinet would be invited to the groundbreaking ceremony.
M-6 Divided Into Five Sections
According to recent briefings, the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway has been divided into five sections:
Hyderabad-Tando Adam: 57 kilometers
Tando Adam-Nawabshah: 63 kilometers
Nawabshah-Naushahro Feroze: 65 kilometers
Naushahro Feroze-Ranipur: 61 kilometers
Ranipur-Sukkur: 60 kilometers
The project has an approved or revised cost of around Rs. 364 billion. It is planned as a six-lane, divided and fenced motorway.
Project Financing
The financing structure for the M-6 combines public-private partnership arrangements with international development financing.
The Islamic Development Bank signed financing agreements in January 2026 involving the M-6 and other projects, while the OPEC Fund is also supporting one section of the motorway.
Construction Expected to Start from Sukkur
Recent parliamentary briefings indicated that construction is expected to begin from the Sukkur side, while approvals for the public-private partnership sections on the Hyderabad side have remained part of the implementation process.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications also confirmed in September that construction of the M-6 was expected to commence by the end of October 2026. The committee planned to visit the project site and participate in the groundbreaking ceremony.
Reasons Behind the Delay
The M-6 project has faced years of delays due to financing issues, procurement procedures, administrative requirements and litigation.
With construction now scheduled to begin, the motorway is being positioned as a major missing link in Pakistan’s road connectivity between the northern and southern parts of the country.
