ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (ABC): Sindh’s motorway and highway infrastructure is set for a major boost in the current financial year, with Rs49.305 billion earmarked for key projects. These include the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway and rehabilitation of the flood-damaged N-5 corridor.
According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the Sindh component of the National Highway Authority’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2026-27 covers nine motorway and highway projects.
These projects have a combined approved PC-I cost of Rs594.977 billion. Cumulative expenditure stood at Rs122.508 billion by June 2026, while the remaining throw-forward liability was Rs472.469 billion as of July 1.
Of the total FY27 allocation, Rs8.055 billion will come from local funding and Rs41.25 billion from foreign assistance.
Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway gets biggest allocation
The government has earmarked the largest share of Rs30 billion for the 306-kilometre Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway. The six-lane, divided and fenced motorway is planned on a build-operate-transfer basis.
The project carries an approved cost of Rs363.7 billion and a throw-forward liability of Rs363.691 billion. Its FY27 allocation includes Rs2 billion in local funding and Rs28 billion in foreign assistance.
According to the documents, authorities expect to finalise the procurement process in November 2026.
Another Rs9 billion has been allocated for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the N-5 section between Moro and Ranipur. The work covers kilometres 318 to 404 on both northbound and southbound carriageways. It also includes restoration of 32 damaged bridges.
The project has an approved cost of Rs57.245 billion. Expenditure reached Rs13.224 billion by June 2026, leaving a throw-forward liability of Rs44.021 billion.
Its FY27 allocation comprises Rs1.75 billion in local funding and Rs7.25 billion in foreign assistance. Physical progress has reached 23% on Lot-1 and 19% on Lot-2, with completion targeted for June 30, 2027.
N-55 expansion receives Rs5bn
The NHA has earmarked Rs5 billion for construction of a 221.9-kilometre additional carriageway on the Indus Highway (N-55) between Shikarpur and Rajanpur. The allocation includes Rs4 billion in foreign assistance.
The project has an approved cost of Rs44.704 billion, while expenditure stands at Rs32.108 billion. Its remaining throw-forward liability amounts to Rs12.596 billion.
Physical progress has reached 24% on Lot-1, 21% on Lot-2, 79% on Lot-3 and 73% on Lot-4. The NHA has targeted October 2026 for completion.
A further Rs2.5 billion has been allocated for the China-aided rehabilitation of the 66-kilometre Hala-Moro section of N-5. The project has an approved cost of Rs27.973 billion, and its procurement process has been finalised.
Other road projects advance
The government has allocated Rs1 billion for construction of a four-lane flyover at the junction of N-5 and N-65 in Sukkur, along with approach roads.
The Rs2.792 billion project has achieved 62% physical progress. Authorities have targeted April 13, 2027, for completion, subject to the availability of funds.
Another Rs800 million has been earmarked for land acquisition, compensation for affected properties and relocation of utilities for the 959-kilometre Karachi-Lahore Motorway.
The Rs66.742 billion scheme has achieved 68% physical progress. The authorities expect to complete it by December 2026, subject to funding availability.
The Bhong Interchange on the Sukkur-Multan Motorway has received an allocation of Rs100 million. The Rs1.780 billion project is 75% complete and scheduled for completion by August 31, 2026.
The CAREC Corridor Development Investment Programme Tranche-I projects have received Rs830 million. Sections 1 and 3 are complete, while Section 2 has achieved 95% physical progress.
The government has also earmarked Rs75 million for the commercial feasibility study of the proposed new Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway under the public-private partnership model.
