The Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCST&SI) has termed the persistent delay in construction of Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6) a major roadblock to Pakistan's economic progress.
In a statement, HCST&SI President Muhammad Saleem Memon noted that the chamber had sent urgent letters to the prime minister, the minister for communications, National Highway Authority (NHA) chairman and the minister for planning, development and special initiatives, demanding immediate completion of M-6 motorway.
A letter was also sent urging the Sindh chief minister to put pressure on federal authorities to expedite work on the long overdue project.
Highlighting the strategic importance of M-6, the chamber president said, "Karachi-Peshawar Motorway is the backbone of Pakistan's economy and M-6 is the only missing link. Karachi handles over 60% of Pakistan's exports and imports; therefore, the delay in M-6 completion is causing enormous losses to the business community through higher transport costs, trade inefficiencies and increasing accidents." He stated that the motorway "is not just a route, it is a lifeline for Pakistan's industrial, agricultural and commercial sectors, connecting critical economic hubs such as Hyderabad, Matiari, Nawabshah, Khairpur and Sukkur".
Memon pointed out that currently all cargo and passenger traffic was congested on the outdated and overburdened National Highway (N-5), which has become accident-prone and unsafe. "The completion of M-6 will significantly reduce travel time and fuel consumption, improve road safety and strengthen Pakistan's position in global trade networks."
He also drew attention to the negative impact the delay in M-6 was causing on the progress of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project aimed at transforming Pakistan into a regional trade hub. "If Pakistan is serious about realising the CPEC vision, M-6 must be completed without further delay," he asserted. The chamber president urged the federal government to allocate funds on a priority basis for the project and in case of budgetary constraints, consider public-private partnerships for investment.
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