Sialkot-Kharian Motorway (M-12) delayed to February 2028 with only 20% built
The Rs 89.7 billion, 69 km Sambrial to Kharian motorway was due in September 2024. Funding gaps and slow land acquisition in Sialkot and Gujrat pushed it back again.
The Sialkot (Sambrial)-Kharian Motorway, M-12, is only 20% complete and its completion date has been pushed to February 2028, ProPakistani reported on Thursday, citing information the federal government shared with the Punjab government. The project was launched in October 2022 and was meant to open in September 2024.
The project in numbers
- Length: 69 km, six lanes
- Cost: Rs 89.739 billion
- Biggest structure: a 1,043-metre bridge over the River Chenab
- Started: October 2022
- First deadline: September 2024
- New deadline: February 2028
- Progress: about 20%
Why it is late
Two things held it up, according to the report: a shortage of funds and delays by the district administrations of Sialkot and Gujrat in issuing land acquisition gazette notifications. Work restarted in February 2026 and is now said to be going at full pace.
In August 2026 the Economic Coordination Committee approved sovereign guarantees of Rs 27.62 billion to help the project reach financial close. The Prime Minister's Office has now named faster land acquisition as the key to finishing it and has recommended that the prime minister tell Punjab's chief secretary to speed it up.
What it means for Sialkot and Gujrat
Once open, the M-12 will link the Sialkot-Lahore Motorway at Sambrial with the GT Road (N-5) at Kharian, crossing the Chenab on its own bridge. For Sialkot's exporters of sports goods, surgical instruments and leather, that means a faster road to Islamabad and the north without going through Wazirabad and Gujrat traffic. Until 2028, trucks and cars will keep using the GT Road.
Each extra year also adds to the cost of the fuel spent on slower roads. Work out what your own trip costs on the fuel cost calculator, using today's petrol price.
The delay is one of several on Punjab's road projects: Communications Minister Aleem Khan blamed the Punjab and KP governments for delays on highway projects in May, Pakistan Today reported, and the PM Office's recommendation now puts the ball with Punjab's chief secretary.
We will update this page when NHA announces a new timeline or the land acquisition is complete.
Frequently asked questions
- When will the Sialkot-Kharian Motorway be completed?
- The revised target is February 2028, according to sources quoted by ProPakistani on 29 October 2026, subject to funding and land acquisition. It was first due in September 2024.
- How long is the Sambrial-Kharian Motorway?
- It is a 69 km, six-lane motorway (M-12) with a 1,043-metre bridge over the River Chenab, costing Rs 89.739 billion.
Sources
- Sialkot-Kharian Motorway Delayed Until 2028: ProPakistani
- Aleem Khan holds Punjab and KP responsible for highway project delays: Pakistan Today
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