ISLAMABAD: The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has approved $475 million in financing for the M-6 Sul(kur-Hyderabad motorway project, aiming to enhance Pakistan`s transport infrastructure by improving connectivity alongakey corridor.

The Board of Executive Directors at the IsDB headquarters in Jeddah granted approval on Monday. The 306km M-6 motorway is the only missing seg-ment in the north-south route linking Karachi to Peshawar.

The project is estimated to cost $1.7bn and will feature six lanes designed for speeds up to 120km/h. It will include 89 bridges, 15 interchanges, and 243 underpasses. The M-6 is part of the broader Eastern Alignment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Physical construction is expected to begin in April next year, with the Sindh government already initiating land acquisition processes. Sindh ChiefMinister Murad Ali Shah has directed officials to complete the transfer of both state and private land required for the construction of the motorway. Previous delays were attributed to litigation issues.

In parallel, the M-10 motorway (Karachi Northern Bypass) is being upgraded and extended to link Karachi directly with the M-6 at Jamshoro. This project aims to establish a high-capacity route for both commercial and passenger traffic from Karachi Port.

The M-6 motorway project has facedseveral delays and financing challenges.

The Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development was recently informed that the estimated cost has increased from $617 million in 2018 to $1.1bn in 2022, and now stands at $1.7bn in 2025.

The government has prioritised the M-6 for the fiscal year 2025-26. It is in talks with multiple financial institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank, the Saudi Fund for Development, and the Asian Development Bank, to secure additionalfunding.