List of Motorways in Pakistan
Do you know the M-2 Motorway was the first in Pakistan and South Asia?
The network of Motorways is spread all over Pakistan. These motorways have significantly improved the transportation quality in the country. They let the citizens enjoy a smooth and uninterrupted journey. Additionally, the motorway routes have reduced travel costs significantly. The importance of motorways is undeniable, as they are a more efficient mode of transportation for laymen and businesses.
Here in the blog, we will discuss motorways in Pakistan and their importance to the economy.
| Motorway | Route | Status | Length(KM) | Lanes | Year of Completion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | M-1 | Peshawar-Islamabad | Operational | 155 | 6 | 2006 | |
| 2. | M-2 | Islamabad-Lahore | Operational | 375 | 6 | 1997 | |
| 3. | M-3 | Lahore-Abdul Hakeem | Operational | 230 | 6 | 2019 | |
| 4. | M-4 | Pindi Bhattian–Multan | Operational | 309 | 4-6 | 2019 | |
| 5. | M-5 | Multan–Sukkur | Operational | 392 | 6 | 2019 | |
| 6. | M-6 | Sukkur-Hyderabad | Under Construction | 306 | 6 | 2024 | |
| 7. | M-7 | Dadu-Hub | Planned | 270 | – | – | |
| 8. | M-8 | Ratodero–Gwadar | Partial Operational | 892 | 2 | 2022 |
1. M-1 Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway
The Peshawar Islamabad Motorway (M-1) connects Peshawar to Islamabad. It originates from Peshawar city and ends at Islamabad at the point where M-2 starts. The length of the motorway is 155 km falling 88 km in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 67 km in Punjab.
The construction work on the M-1 was started in 1997. Later, it was opened to the public in 2007. The total cost of the motorway was USD 314 million.
In addition, the M-1 facilitates citizens living in nearby areas. The connected cities with the Motorway are Charsadda, Risalpur, Swabi, Rashakai in KPK, and Attock, Burhan, and Hasan Abdal in Punjab. Furthermore, it connects KPK with Punjab after crossing a bridge over the Indus River.
M-1 Interchanges
The M-1 (Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway) has a total of 14 interchanges. Airport Link Road
- Islamabad Interchange
- Sanjiani Interchange
- Brahma Bhatar Interchange
- Burhan (Hassan Abadal/ Kamra),
- Hazara Expressway (E-35),
- Ghazi Interchange
- Chachh Interchange
- Swabi Interchange
- Rashakai Interchange
- Charsadda Interchange
- Peshawar Northern Bypass
- Peshawar Ring Road Interchange
- Brahma Bahtar-Yarik Motorway
2. M-2 Islamabad-Lahore Motorway
Islamabad-Lahore Motorway (M-2) connects Rawalpindi and Islamabad with Lahore. It has 6 lanes facilitating vehicles with easy and seamless transportation. The length of M-2 is 375 km falling entirely in the province of Punjab.
In addition, the construction work on the motorway was started in 1990, and it was inaugurated and opened for public transportation in 1997. Proudly, it is the first motorway built in South Asia.
Interchanges on M-2
- M-2-M1 Junction, Islamabad
- Thalian Interchange
- Chakri Interchange
- Neelah Dullah Interchange M-2
- Balkasar Interchange
- Kallar Kahar Interchange
- Lilla Interchange
- Bhera Interchange
- Saalam Interchange
- Kot Momin Interchange
- Makhdoom Interchange
- Pindi Bhattian Interchange
- Sukheki Interchange
- Khanqah Dogran Interchange
- Hiran Minar Interchange
- Sheikhupura Interchange
- Kala Shah Kaku Interchange
- Kot Abdul Malik Interchange
- Faiz Pure Interchange
- Babu Sabu Interchange
- M-2 Zero Point, Lahore
3. M-3 Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway
Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway (M-3) is a north-south motorway in Pakistan. It connects Lahore to Abdul Hakeem City. In addition, it is a parallel motorway of M-4 which connects the M-2 to the same city, Abdul Hakeem.
The M-3 Motorway was inaugurated in 2019. It has 6 lanes, and the total length of the motorway is 230 km.
Interchanges on M-3
- Shorkot Cantonment
- Rajana, Toba Tek Singh
- Samundri
- Jaranwala
- Nankana Sahib
- Sheikhupura
4. M-4 Pindi Bhattian-Multan Motorway
The M-4 Motorway (Pindi Bhattian – Multan Motorway) connects the cities of Faisalabad and Multan. Furthermore, it also connects M-2, M-3, and M-5 motorways. The total length of the M-4 Motorway is 309 km facilitating vehicles with 4 to 6 lanes.
The construction work on the M-4 was started in 2003 in the era of Pervaiz Musharaf. However, it was made operational in 2019. It originates near the M-2 Pindi Bhattian interchange and continues while connecting the cities of Faisalabad, Gojra, TT Singh, Shorkot, Abdul Hakeem, Khanewal and Multan.
Interchanges on M-4
- Shah Shams Tabrez (Multan)
- Shah Rukn-e-Alam (Multan)
- Shamkot (Khanewal)
- Kabirwala
- Makhdoom Pur Pahoran
- Abdul Hakeem
- Shorkot
- Waryam Wala road
- Toba Tek Singh.jhang
- Gojra.jhang
- Painsra/ jhang
- Aminpur
- Kamalpur
- Deptywala
- Sahianwala
5. M-5 Multan-Sukkur Motorway
M-5 or Multan Sukkur Motorway is located in the North-South of Pakistan connecting Multan and Sukkur. It is a 6-lane motorway also part of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor). The approval for the motorway construction was granted in 2014 with an estimated cost of USD 2.5 billion. Traffic operation on the motorway was inaugurated in 2019.
The Motorway starts from Multan and passes through Shujabad, Jalalpur Pirwala, Ahmedpur East, Rahimyar Khan, Sadiqabad, Ubauro, and Pano Aqil before it ends at Sukkur. Furthermore, the Motorway has a total of 11 interchanges.
Interchanges on M-5
- Multan
- Shujaabad
- Jalalpur Pirwala
- Bahawalpur
- Uch Sharif
- Tarinda
- Zahir Peer
- Rahim Yar Khan Toll Plaza
- Guddu
- Ghotki
- Pano Aqil
- Sukkur
6. M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway
Sukkur Hyderabad Motorway is under construction. After completion, the M-6 Motorway will connect Sukkur city to Hyderabad. The construction cost of the motorway is estimated to be USD 1.7 billion. It will be a 6-lane motorway having a length of 306 km long. The M-6 motorway is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The M-6 Motorway will connect with M-9 motorway at Jamshoro for onward connection with Karachi. Furthermore, the Motorway will also be connected to the cities of Matiari, Tando Adam, Shahdadpur, and Nawab Shah in central Sindh.
Interchanges on M-6
- Rohri
- Khairpur
- Larkana Rd
- Gadeji
- Mehrabpur
- Bhiria Rd
- Daur
- Nawabshah
- Shahdadpur
- Tando Adam
- Odero Lal
- Mitiari
- Hyderabad
- N-55
7. M-7 Dadu-Hub Motorway
The M7 motorway, also known as the Dadu-Hub Motorway, is part of the north-south route from Islamabad to Karachi. Stretching approximately 540 kilometers, it will connect Dadu in Sindh province to Hub in Balochistan province. This highway forms the southernmost segment of the route from Ratodero to Karachi.
Interchanges on M-7
Interchanges on M-7 The M-7 Motorway is still under construction. Therefore, the interchanges on the motorway are not operational.
8. M-8 Ratodero–Gwadar Motorway
The M-8 is an east-west motorway in Pakistan, connecting Sukkur-Larkana to Gwadar. While a 193-kilometer stretch between Gwadar and Hoshab was inaugurated in February 2016, the motorway is still under construction. Due to the challenging ground, there is no available timeline for its completion.
The Ratodero-Gwadar Motorway (M-8) will originate from Ratodero in Sindh Province and cross through Balochistan Province, passing near the towns of Khuzdar, Awaran, Hoshab, and Turbat before joining the Makran Coastal Highway just east of the port city of Gwadar. Along its route, the M-8 will cross the Dasht River and pass near the Mirani Dam in Balochistan Province. With a total length of 892 kilometers, the M-8 will initially have 2 lanes, with plans to add another 2 lanes upon completion, making it a 4-lane motorway.
Interchanges on M-8
- Start of motorway Awaran
- Hoshab
- Turbat
- Makran Coastal Highway (N–10)
Conclusion
We discussed important motorways in Pakistan. There are a total of 16 motorways ranging from M-1 to M-16 connecting various cities. However, in this blog, we highlighted the Motorway from M-1 to M-8. We also discussed the importance of these motorways and how they play a vital role in developing a country’s life standards and economy. These motorways have played an important role in promoting businesses in Pakistan i.e. tourism, hotels and restaurants, and courier services.
FAQs
How many motorways does Pakistan have?
There are total 16 motorways in Pakistan. including:
- M-1
- M-2
- M-3
- M-4
- M-5
- M-6
- M-7
- M-8
- M-9
- M-10
- M-11
- M-12
- M-13
- M-14
- M-15
- M-16
Who owns motorways in Pakistan?
The Motorways in Pakistan are operated under the supervision of the Pakistan National Highway Authority. However, they are the government property.
What is the difference between motorways and expressways in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, motorways typically have more lanes, a higher speed limit (120 km/h), and stricter design standards, while expressways generally have fewer lanes and a lower speed limit (100 km/h), but both have controlled access and are designed for high-speed travel between cities or regions.
Which motorway is M1?
Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway is called the M-1 Motorway.
Which is the longest motorway in Pakistan?
The longest motorway in Pakistan is M-8 (Ratodero–Gwadar Motorway).
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