• Rs30bn allocated in current fiscal year for delayed project against requirement of Rs70bn
• NA body expresses concern over stalled highway schemes nationwide; seeks completion timelines, province-wise breakdown
• Subcommittee to review NHA’s throw-forward schemes
ISLAMABAD: The Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M6) project is expected to move ahead this fiscal year after years of delays, with the government dividing the multibillion-rupee scheme into five sections to secure financing, officials told a National Assembly committee on Friday.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications, chaired by lawmaker Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, reviewed the latest progress on the motorway, which has faced delays of more than five years due to several reasons.
The project now comprises five sections: Hyderabad-Tando Adam, Tando Adam-Nawabshah, Nawabshah-Naushahro Feroze, Naushahro Feroze-Ranipur, and Ranipur-Sukkur.
Officials apprised the committee that Rs30 billion have been allocated for the project this financial year against a total demand of Rs70 billion.
The sections will utilise a mix of financing models.
Sections I and II will be executed under a public-private partnership. The Islamic Development Bank will finance sections IV and V, while the OPEC Fund will finance section III.
The Ministry of Communications briefed the committee on expected commencement schedules and reviewed recommendations concerning Public Sector Development Programme schemes.
Officials noted that out of the total
PSDP outlay of Rs3.7 trillion, approximately Rs2.6tr comprised throw-forward schemes.
Furthermore, 71 ongoing projects fall under this throw-forward category. The meeting sought a comprehensive status report on these schemes, including their province-wise bifurcation and expected completion timelines.
The committee learnt that around Rs60bn allocated to the National Highway Authority had been reduced in the federal budget due to austerity measures and emerging security requirements.
Consequently, Mr Jakhrani observed that road maintenance expenditure had remained significantly constrained over the past two years. He directed the ministry to submit a comprehensive report on maintenance fund utilisation, particularly in Sindh province.
Lawmakers raised several concerns regarding regional delays.
A member from Balochistan highlighted the slow execution of the Lasbela-Awaran road and pointed out that Rs5bn allocated for the Kharan-Basima road had remained unutilised for several years.
The committee also sought an update on the slow pace of work on the Keti Bandar Road project, requesting an expected completion timeline.
The committee expressed serious concern over prolonged delays on the 320-kilometre Quetta-Zhob road, citing numerous diversions.
Members emphasised that the 13-kilometre stretch from Fort Munro to Loralai requires the highest priority because of substantial inter-provincial traffic. The committee also discussed the incomplete Shahdadkot Bypass project, directing the NHA Sukkur general manager to attend the next meeting.
Regarding the New Baran Bridge, the communications secretary said the feasibility study is complete, and the project will be financed through Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank funding.
Lawmakers questioned the rationale behind awarding the operation of all toll plazas in Sindh to a single contractor.
They also highlighted that the Rajanpur Toll Plaza continues to collect substan-tial revenue despite the road remaining incomplete.
Reviewing commuter facilities on highways, the committee directed the NHA to take strict action against contractors violating standard operating procedures.
To investigate these issues, the parliamentary body constituted a sub-committee convened by Syed Hafeezuddin, alongside members Ramesh Lal, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasar, and Shamsher Ali Mazari.
The subcommittee is tasked with examining NHA throw-forward schemes, the toll plaza tendering process in Sindh, and the continued taxation on under-construction roads.
Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2026