The Executive Committee of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has approved the construction of the M-12 (Sialkot-Kharian) and M-13 (Kharian-Rawalpindi) motorways as six-lane roads from the outset, aiming to improve connectivity and reduce future costs, BR reported. Â
The decision follows consultations with the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and comes after detailed discussions on cost-efficiency and long-term planning.
The decision to build the motorways with six lanes, rather than expanding them later, aims to save Rs11 billion. A traffic study indicated that adding two extra lanes by 2027 would require an additional expenditure of Rs20.7 billion. However, constructing six lanes from the start will reduce costs in the long run.
As part of the approved plan, NHA has been directed to submit a position paper and revised financing structure to the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives for further approvals.Â
Additionally, NHA is tasked with submitting a revised project proposal for the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway (M-13) by April 30, 2025.
The committee also discussed the progress of the M-6 (Sukkur-Hyderabad) motorway, with the NHA presenting a revised project cost of Rs399 billion. This project is divided into five sections, with the first phase bidding process set to begin in October 2025.
NHA is also pursuing various financing options for these projects, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), Government-to-Government (G2G) agreements, and funding from international financial institutions. The goal is to ensure a smooth implementation process while maintaining flexibility in the financing approach.
The SIFC meeting emphasized the need for integrated planning, particularly in linking the M-6 and M-10 motorways, to ensure seamless logistics movement and improve connectivity with Karachi Port. The NHA has been given clear timelines to meet for awarding contracts and progressing with these critical infrastructure projects.
