By Uzma Sahar 
The long-awaited 306-kilometer Hyderabad–Sukkur Motorway is the main feature of a significant transport package for Sindh that was approved by the National Economic Council’s Executive Committee. To manage phasing throughout the corridor and expedite execution, the project will be delivered in five sections.
Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the ECNEC meeting confirmed that the first three sections—covering 180 km—will be financed via an Islamic Development Bank loan. The remaining two sections are to be delivered through federal budgetary support or a public–private partnership, enabling risk-sharing and crowding in private capital for timely completion. The indicative cost stands at Rs363 billion, reflecting the scope and strategic importance of the corridor.
What else was approved for Sindh
- A new 221-km roadway from Chundko (Sanghar district) to Rohri, traversing the desert belt of Sanghar, passing through Khairpur, and connecting to Rohri. This scheme will be jointly funded by the federal and Sindh governments.
- Dualization of the Mehran Highway to increase capacity, reduce head-on collision risk, and improve freight flows.
- Reconstruction of the Rohri–Guddu Barrage road with joint financing, strengthening an important link for irrigation infrastructure access and cross-river connectivity.
- A 36-km coastal highway in Thatta, to be executed collaboratively by provincial and federal tiers.
- New link roads between Tando Adam and Tando Allahyar, agreed under a joint financing model.
- Expedited repairs on the existing National Highway between Hyderabad and Sukkur to enhance safety and maintain service levels during the motorway build-out.
Why it matters
- Improved travel times on the north–south spine will lower logistics costs for agriculture, textiles, and industry across interior Sindh.
- Safety gains from dualization and rehabilitation reduce accident exposure on high-conflict segments.
- Diversified funding—multilateral support, federal resources, and potential PPPs—spreads fiscal pressure while sustaining momentum.
- Enhanced desert and coastal access (Sanghar–Rohri, Thatta coastal highway) opens new tourism, trade, and agro-based opportunities.
- Provincial representation by Sindh Minister Jam Khan Shoro helped align priorities and secure approvals for schemes with broad regional impact.
Funding snapshot
- Hyderabad–Sukkur Motorway: 5 sections; first 3 (180 km) via Islamic Development Bank; remaining via federal/PPP.
- Several ancillary roads: federal–Sindh co-financing across routes, including Chundko–Rohri, Rohri–Guddu Barrage, Tando Adam–Tando Allahyar, and Thatta coastal highway.
Implementation notes
- Phased construction enables early benefits on opened sections while remaining segments proceed.
- PPP segments can be structured for availability payments or toll-based revenue, subject to traffic and risk allocation.
- Right-of-way, environmental safeguards, and community engagement will be critical to de-risk timelines.