By Ayesha Saba

The National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) has forwarded the PC-1 for the proposed Karachi Port-Hyderabad Motorway (M-10) to the Planning Commission (PC), according to project documents available with Wealth Pakistan.

The motorway is estimated to cost about Rs331 billion ($1.18 billion), while the total project cost is estimated at around Rs410 billion ($1.46 billion).

The detailed design and commercial feasibility study for the project, which is planned to be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, have been completed. The PC-1 was submitted to the Planning Commission in March 2026.

The project is designed to provide a dedicated high-capacity corridor between Karachi Port and Hyderabad, improving freight movement from the country's main port area to the interior of Sindh and the wider motorway network. The alignment will connect Karachi Port with Hub Chowk before extending to Hyderabad, where it will link with the proposed M-6 motorway.

The corridor has been divided into three sections to meet urban and inter-city transport requirements.

Section one (0-18km) is proposed as an 18km elevated 4+4 lane urban expressway commencing from ICI Chowk, following Mauripur Road and connecting with the existing M-10 corridor through Karachi’s dense urban fabric. The remaining 151 kilometres are proposed as an at-grade motorway facility.

Section two (18-34.5km) involves improving and upgrading the existing M-10 into a 3+3 lane at-grade section.

Section three (34.5-169km) is planned as a 134.5km New Greenfield 3+3 lane motorway running parallel to M-9 and terminating near the proposed M-6 alignment at Hyderabad – the heart of the project’s logistics value chain.

The project’s salient features include 10 interchanges, 54 bridges, 44 cattle creeps, 200 box culverts, and 66 subways. It will also include 20 toll plazas, including two main toll plazas, three service areas and three rest areas on both sides.

The documents also indicate strong traffic demand on the proposed corridor. The ICI Chowk to Hub Chowk section is projected to carry an average annual daily traffic (AADT) of 48,710 vehicles, reflecting heavy urban, semi-urban and freight movement.

The Hub Chowk to Hyderabad section is projected to handle 34,488 vehicles on an average annual daily basis, with significant freight traffic, including trailers and trucks.

Credit: INP-WealthPk