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Pakistan's Longest Motorway M5 to Boost Road Transport Sector
Recent opening of M5, Pakistan's longest access-controlled motorway, is a boost for the nation's fast-growing road transport sector. The 6-lane 392 kilometers long M5 motorway is longer than than the 375 kilometers long 6-lane M2 motorway. After M5 opening, the only missing section in planned 1,694 kilometer long 6-lane Peshawar-Karachi motorway is 296-kilometer Sukkur-Hyderabad M6 motorway. Growing network of high-speed motorways is opening up less developed parts of the country for investment, business and tourism. It is aiding agriculture, trade and commerce by moving freight and people faster. Transport sector is part of the service sector which constitutes 54% of the national economy. Service sector includes education, health, financial services, legal services, communication services, hotels, restaurants, recreation, entertainment, retail and wholesale, personal services, etc. It is growing faster than industry (26%) and agriculture (20%) sectors.
Here's a brief overview of Pakistan's road transport sector as summarized by Karandaz research:
1. The Transport, Logistics and Communications (TLC) sector is estimated to have contributed 13.3% of GDP in 2016-17. Of this, more than 62% was contributed by the road transport sector. In 2014-15 the sector employed 3.1 million people.
2. Most traffic intensive routes are a) Karachi to Peshawar via Hyderabad-Multan-Faisalabad-Rawalpindi; b) Sukkur to Quetta; c) Karachi to Quetta via the RCD Highway; and d) N-5 National Highway segment of Multan-Lahore-Gujranwala-Rawalpindi.
3. Passengers and freight are the primary segments of road transport sector. The fastest growing freight segment is the delivery vans at 7.5% annually, while for the passenger segment it is motor cabs and taxis at 5.9% annually.
4. Road transport grew at an average rate of 6.2% annually between 1991 and 2016, faster than the average GDP growth rate 4.4% during this period. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is expected to accelerate transport sect or growth with construction of roads and other transport infrastructure.
5. Freight transport sector is highly lucrative with profit margins ranging from 21% for large trucks to 43% for rickshaws. Passenger transport sector is even more lucrative with 30% profit margin for wagons to 50% for luxury buses.
Here's a video of Uch Sharif service area on M5 Sukkur-Musltan Motorway:
https://youtu.be/NC6J8YRAJS4
Views: 1188
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Comment by Riaz Haq on April 30, 2026 at 9:34am
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NHA, ADB sign agreement to develop 2 sections of M6 Motorway - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
https://www.dawn.com/news/1994099
ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday inked a landmark agreement for the construction of two sections of the M6 Motorway.
In February, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan had announced that the construction of the M-6 Motorway project would officially begin in May this year and would be executed under a Public-Private Partnership model
In a social media post on X, Aleem said that the agreement between the ADB and the NHA for the construction of the motorway was a “promising” development, felicitating the whole nation.
ایم 6 موٹروے کی تعمیر کے لیے ایشیائی ترقیاتی بینک اور این ایچ اے کے درمیان معاہدہ خوش آئیند ہے جس پر پوری قوم کو مبارکباد۔ جو منصوبہ 30 سال میں شروع نہ ہو سکا اللہ کے کرم سے 2 سال کے عرصہ میں ہی شروع ہونے جا رہا ہے۔ یہ شاہراہ کراچی تا سکھر کوریڈور کا "مسنگ لنک" ہے جو پاکستان کی
bTLWGS14_200x200.jpg
Abdul Aleem Khan (@abdul_aleemkhan) 3K likes · 199 replies
x.com
“A project that could not be initiated in 30 years is, by the grace of Allah, now set to begin within just two years,” Aleem said.
He further said that the road was a “missing link” in the Karachi-Sukkur corridor and was “essential for Pakistan’s economic development”.
“Its construction will enable traffic from Karachi Port to travel seamlessly via the motorway all the way to Peshawar and Gilgit,” the minister said.
The M-6 motorway is the only missing segment in the north-south route linking Karachi to Peshawar. He said that the 306-kilometre-long, six-lane motorway would also include 15 interchanges and 10 service areas.
Meanwhile, a separate press release said the project structure included two key sections from Hyderabad to Nawabshah, which will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model to ensure transparency and attract private sector investment.
“While the Islamic Development Bank and the OPEC Fund have already approved financing for three other sections, the Minister reaffirmed that the entire M6 project is slated for completion within the next two years,” the statement said.
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Profit
@Profitpk
Project includes Pakistan's longest 13.5km Babusar Tunnel and aims to cut Karakoram Highway travel distance by up to 120km
Read: https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/06/03/nha-approves-172km-m...
https://x.com/Profitpk/status/2062095302505750907?s=20
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The Pakistan Telegraph
@TelegraphPak
🇵🇰 Major Infrastructure Breakthrough
Pakistan has approved the 172km Mansehra–Kaghan–Naran–Jhal Khand–Chilas (MNJC) Motorway, a strategic alternative to the Karakoram Highway. The project will shorten travel by up to 120km, feature Pakistan’s longest tunnel (13.5km Babusar Tunnel), and strengthen connectivity between Karachi & Gwadar ports and western China.
Planned as a 4-lane motorway expandable to 6 lanes, the route is expected to boost tourism, trade, regional connectivity, and the long-term development of Gwadar, making it a key component of Pakistan’s future transport network. 🇵🇰🚧🌏
https://x.com/TelegraphPak/status/2062209750629253348?s=20
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NHA approves 172km Mansehra-Chilas motorway via Kaghan and Naran
Project includes Pakistan's longest 13.5km Babusar Tunnel and aims to cut Karakoram Highway travel distance by up to 120km
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/06/03/nha-approves-172km-m...
The National Highway Authority (NHA) has approved the construction of a 172-kilometre motorway connecting Mansehra and Chilas through Kaghan, Naran and Jhal Khand, according to an official statement.
The approval was granted during a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan.
The proposed Mansehra-Naran-Jhal Khand-Chilas (MNJC) Motorway will serve as an alternative route to the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and is expected to reduce travel distance on the existing highway by up to 120 kilometres.
The project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will cover the section from Mansehra to Kaghan, Naran and Babusar Top, while the second phase will extend the motorway from Babusar Top to Chilas.
A key component of the project is the construction of a 13.5-kilometre Babusar Tunnel, which is expected to become the longest tunnel in Pakistan. The four-lane motorway will also be designed to allow future expansion to six lanes.
According to the plan, modern rest areas will be established every 25 to 30 kilometres along the route, while dedicated trucking terminals for freight transport will be developed on both sides of the motorway.
Speaking at the meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan said the new corridor would provide a direct connection between Western China and the ports of Karachi and Gwadar, offering an alternative trade route to existing networks.
He said the motorway would reduce travel time and transportation costs for cargo moving between the Arabian Sea and Western China and support connectivity with Gwadar Port.
The minister directed the relevant authorities to complete all technical planning and related requirements within the prescribed timeframe.
The meeting was also attended by the Secretary Communications and the Chairman of the National Highway Authority.
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