SIFC backed M-13 motorway to slash Lahore-Islamabad travel by an hour

ISLAMABAD: In a major boost to Pakistan’s infrastructure landscape, the upcoming M-13 Kharian–Rawalpindi Motorway is set to establish a highly anticipated strategic alternative to the decades old M-2 route. Spearheaded by sustained institutional coordination through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the project has undergone a comprehensive transformation, upgrading it to a 117.2 kilometre, six-lane high speed corridor designed to redefine northern transit and cargo logistics.

The mega project promises to shave off nearly 100 kilometers from the current travel distance between Lahore and the twin cities, translating into an estimated one hour reduction in travel time. Beyond convenience, the design incorporates a crucial safety upgrade: by bypassing the notorious, accident prone gradients of the Salt Range at Kallar Kahar through three state of the art tunnels, the new route aims to significantly reduce traffic fatalities while ensuring an efficient flow for heavy freight transport.

Officials close to the development reveal that the M-13 is part of a larger, integrated transport network. SIFC's intervention proved critical in reviving the stalled M-12 Sialkot–Kharian Motorway, where construction had been completely suspended since October 2024. Following successful mediation, the National Highway Authority (NHA) resumed work on the M-12 stretch in February 2026. Simultaneously, plans are underway to upgrade the existing M-11 Lahore–Sialkot Motorway from four lanes to six, creating a unified, high capacity economic corridor across central Punjab.

Once the combined M-11, M-12, and M-13 network becomes fully operational, traffic planners project that 50 to 60 percent of the commuters and commercial freight currently utilizing the M-2 will shift to this newer alignment. The corridor will offer superior proximity to major population centers and industrial clusters along the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, specifically providing Sialkot's export oriented industries with a direct, high speed link to the rest of the country.

Economic experts point out that the business case for the new artery extends well beyond domestic transit. The corridor is designed to foster new economic zones, positioning itself as a vital trade artery connecting Lahore and Islamabad to Peshawar, and onward to Central Asian markets via Afghanistan, as well as China through the Khunjerab Pass. By optimizing freight routes, the network is expected to save billions of rupees in fuel costs annually while substantially lowering the transport sector’s carbon footprint in Pakistan.