The federal government has secured $705 million for three sections of the Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway. The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives was told that contracts for those sections are expected in November and December 2026.
During a review of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP)—the federal government's annual development budget—the Senate Standing Committee on Planning examined progress on the missing link of the national highway grid. The committee expressed serious concern over prolonged delays. The motorway has been under consideration since 2017.
External financing and procurement targets
Officials informed the committee that financing arrangements with international partners had been secured for the remaining sections. The Islamic Development Bank is providing $475 million to finance Sections IV and V, while the OPEC Fund for International Development has pledged $230 million for Section III.
Bids for Sections III and IV are under evaluation, while bids for Section V are expected to open in October 2026. Contract awards for Sections III, IV and V are expected by November and December 2026. Meanwhile, Sections I and II of the Sukkur Hyderabad motorway will be constructed through a public-private partnership model, where private firms finance and operate the asset. The Asian Development Bank is providing transaction advisory support for Sections I and II, with the concession award targeted for February 2027.
Senate scrutiny over delays and fiscal space
Parliamentarians led by committee chair Senator Quratulain Marri and Senator Afnanullah Khan questioned executive officials on why the strategic artery had stalled since 2017. The committee urged highway authorities to establish definite construction timelines and eliminate further procurement postponements.
The panel also addressed macroeconomic constraints surrounding foreign-assisted infrastructure. The committee was told that 98 foreign-funded projects in the PSDP 2026-27 have a total estimated cost of Rs8,099.94 billion, with foreign assistance of Rs4,649.2 billion. Against a rupee-cover demand of Rs537 billion, the Economic Affairs Division proposed Rs425 billion. The National Economic Council, approving the PSDP at Rs1,000 billion on 10 June 2026, allocated Rs255 billion for these projects. The chair stressed that dollar loans should be weighed against local resources, and that foreign-funded projects still need enough rupee cover to avoid delays.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 2017: Initial planning and consideration for the M-6 motorway corridor begins.
- June 10, 2026: The National Economic Council caps counterpart funding at Rs255 billion within a Rs1 trillion annual development package.
- October 2026: Commercial tender bids for Section V are scheduled to be opened.
- November–December 2026: Official contract awards for Sections III, IV, and V are targeted for completion.
- February 2027: Concession awards for public-private partnership packages (Sections I and II) are slated for finalization.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Hukumat ne M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway ke teen hisson ke liye 705 million dollar hasil kar liye hain: Islamic Development Bank Sections IV aur V ke liye 475 million dollar de raha hai, aur OPEC Fund Section III ke liye 230 million dollar. In teen hisson ke thekay November aur December 2026 tak expected hain. Sections I aur II public-private partnership par hain, jinka concession February 2027 tak target hai.
