ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has prequalified eight construction firms and joint ventures for two sections of the long-delayed Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6), marking a major step toward reviving the 306-kilometre project.
The prequalification process was initiated in December 2025 for Section-IV (Naushahro Feroze-Ranipur), covering 60.90 kilometres, and Section-V (Ranipur-Sukkur), spanning 59.88 kilometres. Financing for both sections has been committed by the Islamic Development Bank.
A total of 16 firms and joint ventures submitted applications for the two sections. Following an evaluation by the NHA’s Procurement and Contracts (P&CA) section, eight applicants were disqualified, while the remaining eight were cleared for the next stage of the procurement process.
Six Prequalified Firms Named
The source material identifies six of the eight prequalified applicants as:
- SAJCO-ZKB (JV)
- China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Corporation Limited
- SGEG-Umer Jan (JV)
- China 20 Bureau Group Company Limited
- Onur Taahhut Tasimacilik Insaat Ticaret ve Sanayi
- Matracon-ZTZS (JV)
The names of the remaining two prequalified applicants were not included in the available source material.
M-6 Divided into Five Sections
The 306-kilometre greenfield M-6 has been divided into five sections:
- Hyderabad-Tando Adam
- Tando Adam-Nawabshah
- Nawabshah-Naushahro Feroze
- Naushahro Feroze-Ranipur
- Ranipur-Sukkur
Financing has already been secured for three sections through international development lenders. The Islamic Development Bank is financing Sections IV and V, while the OPEC Fund for International Development has committed financing for Section III.
The remaining two sections are planned to be developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
M-6 to Complete Karachi-Lahore Motorway Link
The M-6 is considered a key missing link in Pakistan’s north-south motorway network. Once completed, it is expected to provide uninterrupted motorway connectivity from Karachi to Lahore, with onward connections to Islamabad and Peshawar through the existing M-5 motorway network.
The project is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Sindh and Punjab while reducing travel times and supporting the movement of freight and commercial traffic.
Project Previously Halted
The M-6 project faced a major setback in December 2023 when the NHA terminated the contract awarded to TECMC (Pvt) Ltd after the contractor failed to achieve financial close.
The contractor had previously been granted two extensions to complete the financial arrangements, but the required financial close was not achieved.
With the latest prequalification process now completed for Sections IV and V, the project has moved another step toward implementation. Subject to timely financing arrangements and the award of construction contracts, the motorway is targeted for completion around 2029.
The revival of the M-6 is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s motorway network and improve road connectivity between the country’s major economic and population centres.
