Aleem Khan promises construction of M-6 Motorway this year

Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan promised to start construction of M-6 Motorway in 2025 with focus on Karachi-Sukkur section, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking in Senate during the question-hour session on Tuesday, Aleem Khan said the previous government has been responsible for not building M-6. He said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) should give an account of its five years, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should also give an account of their five years, he added.

Peoples Party Senate members protested in the House over the statement of the Federal Minister for Communications.

“I stand by my statement. If the road was not built during someone's tenure, then they are responsible,” Aleem Khan said and added “I have not said that Sindh's road is not Pakistan's road till today.”

Aleem Khan assured the House that the construction of M-6 Motorway will begin in 2025 without delay, highlighting its significance as a top priority under the directives of the Prime Minister. The project will now connect Sukkur to Karachi instead of the previously planned Hyderabad-Sukkur route.

Aleem Khan emphasized that all interchanges on the country’s motorways, including the M-6, will be designed according to the specific needs of the surrounding regions. The concerns with stakeholders would be addressed through consultations. The minister also reiterated that the M-6 is a critical project and assured its timely completion.

Aleem said the Hyderabad-Sukkur section will be tendering under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, while its detailed design and cost estimations has already been finalized. The National Highway Authority (NHA) has submitted the Project Qualification Proposal (PQP) for this section to the Public-Private Partnership Authority (P3A) for approval.

The minister further stated that for the Karachi-Hyderabad section, preparations are underway to hire consultants for a feasibility study; however, the approval is also under process from the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP).

The minister underlined the importance of the M-50 Motorway alongside the M-6 project, describing both as crucial for enhancing regional connectivity and economic development.

He also highlighted that 44% of the budget for road infrastructure has been allocated to Balochistan, reflecting the government’s commitment to equitable development across provinces.

“Timely and transparent execution of these projects is our utmost priority. We are determined to address regional disparities and ensure that these projects meet their deadlines,” Aleem added, expressing confidence in the government’s vision for a more connected and prosperous Pakistan.

Reporter: Usman Khan