In a pivotal move to transform Pakistan’s infrastructure landscape, the Executive Committee of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has mandated the construction of the M-12 (Sialkot-Kharian) and M-13 (Kharian-Rawalpindi) motorways as six-lane highways from inception, overriding earlier plans for phased expansion. The decision aims to curb long-term costs and delays exacerbated by inflation, design revisions, and land acquisition hurdles.
The M-12 project, initially budgeted at Rs22.5 billion in 2021, saw costs balloon to Rs71 billion due to hydraulic studies for the Chenab River bridge, defense ministry scope changes, and soaring interest rates. A traffic study revealed that building six lanes upfront costing Rs 9.5 billion extra would save Rs11 billion compared to adding lanes later. The SIFC-EC endorsed the six-lane model with the National Highways Authority (NHA) ordered to secure approvals by April 30, 2025, and finalize revised Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreements.
Simultaneously, the Sukkur-Hyderabad (M-6) motorway, priced at Rs 399 billion, was divided into five sections for phased bidding. The NHA plans to award contracts by October 2025, courting financing from Azerbaijan, Islamic Development Bank, and others.
Emphasizing connectivity, the SIFC demanded a holistic master plan to integrate Karachi Port with new motorways like M-10, ensuring seamless logistics. The Karachi-Quetta-Chaman (N-25) route was prioritized for completion within three years, including rest areas for commuter safety.
“Fragmentary planning has cost us time and trust. These projects are lifelines for trade and regional stability,” stated an SIFC official, highlighting lessons from past delays.
With Pakistan’s infrastructure ambitions now tethered to global partnerships and hybrid financing, the SIFC’s directives signal an urgent push to align engineering precision with economic pragmatism a race against time to cement progress on the ground.
