ISLAMABAD: The government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday signed a landmark agreement to finance the Rs365 billion Sukkur-Karachi Motorway (SKM) project (M6), the only missing link in the motorway network from Karachi to Peshawar and the northern areas.

Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan welcomed the signing of a strategic agreement between the ADB and the National Highway Authority (NHA) to build the M6 motorway, and congratulated the nation on this significant milestone.

The minister described the project as a vital gateway to Pakistan’s future development and a decisive step toward economic prosperity.

Presiding over a meeting, the minister highlighted that the government had successfully initiated a project that had been stalled for over 30 years, achieving this breakthrough in just two years of dedicated effort.

Minister eyes 306km six-lane Sukkur-Karachi motorway to be completed in two years

He emphasised that the M6 motorway represents the “missing economic link” of the country’s North-South corridor, making its completion an absolute necessity for sustainable national growth. He said the motorway was among the most critical infrastructure assets in Pakistan, serving as a backbone for the country’s future trade and logistics.

The completion of this missing link will revolutionise Pakistan’s transport network by allowing traffic from Karachi Port to travel seamlessly to Peshawar and Gilgit via a continuous motorway system. The 306-km-long, six-lane project will be equipped with modern tolling and safety systems, featuring 15 interchanges and 10 state-of-the-art service areas to facilitate travellers and commercial transporters alike.

The project structure includes two key sections from Hyderabad to Nawabshah, which will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to ensure transparency and attract private sector investment.

Although the Islamic Development Bank and the Opec Fund have already approved financing for three other sections, the minister reaffirmed that the entire M6 project is due for completion within the next two years.

Aleem Khan said that connecting Karachi’s ports to the northern regions was a national priority, which would unlock new investment opportunities and strengthen Pakistan’s regional trade connectivity.

Sections 1 and 2 of the project will be executed on a PPP basis, while the ADB will provide transaction advisory services, including the preparation of a bankable feasibility study, project marketing, procurement support, and taking the project to financial close.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026