Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and the National Highways Authority of Pakistan (NHA) have signed the M-9 Hyderabad - Karachi motorway project.

The project involves the development of a 139-km-long motorway. According to the contract agreement, the existing 4 lane Karachi-Hyderabad superhighway will be converted in 6 lane motorway meeting international standards and maintain and operate the motorway, in line with international practices over next 25 years.

The project will be developed on Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis.

The total project investment is estimated at Rs36 billion (US$349.7 million).

In addition, work on the 42-km-long Malir Expressway is expected to start soon, this road will link the Karachi port to M-9.

The Hyderabad - Karachi road project is the first phase of the Karachi - Lahore motorway. The second phase of the M-9 will be developed between Hyderabad and Sukkur, the third phase will be carried out between Sukkur and Multan and the last phase of the project will link Multan and Lahore.

According to the FWO Director General Maj Gen Mohammad Afzal, the six lines M-9 is expected to be finished with the cooperation of local banks and the financing would be repaid through the income of toll plaza.