Azerbaijan has agreed in principle to invest $2 billion in Pakistan’s road infrastructure, with a major focus on launching the long-delayed Sukkur-Hyderabad (M-6) Motorway project this year. This funding and construction plan was disclosed by Secretary Communications Ali Sher Mahsud during a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.
The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is also set to partially fund the M-6 project. The approval from the Islamic Develpment Bank’s Governing Board is expected by September 2025. IDB’s funding will specifically cover Section-IV (Naushehro Feroz–Ranipur) and Section-V (Ranipur–Sukkur) of the motorway.
According to the National Highway Authority (NHA), the M-6 remains the only missing link in Pakistan’s north-south motorway network. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially inaugurated the project in December 2023. Initially awarded to the consortium M/s Techno-CMC-ACC under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model for 25 years, the 306 km six-lane motorway project faced delays after the consortium failed to achieve financial close, leading to the cancellation of the contract.
With the Sindh government’s intervention, the scope of the project has now been expanded to include the Hyderabad-Karachi (M-9) segment, effectively connecting Sukkur to Karachi. The plan is to construct both segments through a public-private partnership (PPP) or a joint consortium formed by the provincial and federal governments.
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M9: Karachi Hyderabad Motorway
Work on the M-9 motorway, a vital route connecting Karachi and Hyderabad, is also slated to begin later this year. Together with the M-6, these motorways are anticipated to significantly cut travel time, streamline freight transport, and enhance economic connectivity across Sindh.
Minister for Communications Aleem Khan has reiterated the government’s commitment to the M-6 project, citing it as a top priority. During a recent visit to Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed funding opportunities with Azerbaijani officials, requesting support for two major infrastructure projects: the $1.2 billion Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway and a new $600 million Hyderabad-Karachi Motorway, planned on a revised route.
In response, the Azerbaijani government has proposed over $1 billion in funding, including a cash deposit, and presented two financing options for the motorways.
M6: Sukkur Hyderabad Motorway – critical for CPEC
The M-6 motorway, a crucial component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has faced over six years of delays. However, momentum is now building for its construction to finally move forward. In a recent Senate committee session, lawmakers urged the National Highway Authority (NHA) to pause work on other road projects and make the M-6 their top priority.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal supported this sense of urgency, assuring the Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development that their recommendations would be acted upon. To speed up progress, he suggested breaking the M-6 into three segments for phased development.