Karachi Traffic Congestion Expected to Ease with M-10 Motorway Expansion

Commuting in Karachi may become less challenging in the coming years as the existing 57-kilometre Northern Bypass is slated for expansion into a six-lane, 134-kilometre M-10 Motorway.

According to details released by officials from the Communications Ministry, the projected motorway will establish a direct connection between Karachi and the M-6 Motorway at Jamshoro, traversing the Kirthar Mountain Range.

The main objective of this project is to reroute heavy goods vehicles away from the city’s primary roads, thereby alleviating strain on urban traffic patterns.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah emphasized the importance of the projects stating, “The Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6) and Karachi Northern Bypass–Jamshoro Motorway (M-10) schemes hold paramount importance not just for Sindh but for the economic advancement of the entire nation.” He conveyed this during a meeting with Federal Communications Minister Aleem Khan at CM House, where they assessed the progress of these significant infrastructural endeavors.

The CM added, “M-6 will create opportunities for the youth of interior Sindh through better connectivity, while M-10 will address Karachi’s traffic issues comprehensively.”

Key figures present at the meeting included provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, and Haji Ali Hassan Zardari, along with Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Chairman of the Planning & Development Board Najam Shah, and Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh. Federal Secretary of Communications Ali Sher and Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA) Sahibzada Shahryar Sultan were also in attendance.

The federal communication secretary informed the CM and federal communication minister that the final approval under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) had been granted for the remaining North–South Motorway link on M-6. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) had sanctioned the project with a budget of Rs363 billion.

The NHA is set to execute the project in five distinct phases. Funding for two sections has been pledged by the Islamic Development Bank, while a Chinese firm has shown interest in undertaking all five segments, it was revealed.

Officials highlighted the significance of M-6, noting that it would complete Pakistan’s north–south motorway backbone, connecting Peshawar to Karachi. This is expected to boost trade, improve logistics, accelerate regional development by reducing transit times, enhancing safety, and streamlining port-to-upcountry connectivity.

Discussions also encompassed the M-10 project, which has evolved from a simple bypass upgrade into a two-part initiative. The segments involve upgrading the Karachi Northern Bypass (34km) from the ICI Bridge to the Hamdard University Chowk into an eight-lane motorway, and the construction of a new 134 km, six-lane motorway through the Kirthar Range, linking the Hamdard University Chowk to the M-6 at Jamshoro.

Furthermore, a 23km segment stretching from Hamdard University Chowk to the M-9 will undergo upgrades to become a six-lane road. The meeting participants learned that this will transform the entire route from the Karachi Port to M-6 in Jamshoro into a high-capacity motorway.

Currently, NESPAK is undertaking a feasibility study for M-10. The federal minister stated that the project’s primary goal is to ease congestion in Karachi by establishing a direct, high-speed link between the port and the national motorway network, bypassing city traffic.

The CM expressed his appreciation for the federal government’s assistance, recognizing the importance of both projects for the nation’s development. Minister Khan assured the CM of the federal communications ministry and NHA’s unwavering commitment to completing both projects efficiently and transparently.

Murad acknowledged the long-standing neglect of the M-6 Motorway from Hyderabad to Sukkur and expressed his gratitude for the federal government’s involvement. The federal minister affirmed that the NHA would be responsible for constructing the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway.

The M-6 Motorway project has been segmented into four sections: Naushahro Feroze to Ranipur, Ranipur to Sukkur, Hyderabad to Tando Adam, and Tando Adam to Nawabshah. The CM advocated for the prompt commencement of work on M-6 to facilitate public and port traffic.