Construction of the 69-kilometer Sialkot (Sambrial)-Kharian Motorway (M-12) remains behind schedule, with only 20 percent of the work completed, according to the federal government, which shared the information with the Punjab government.
The Rs. 89.739 billion project was launched in October 2022 and was initially scheduled for completion in September 2024. Sources told Raised by Numbers that its completion deadline has now been revised to February 2028.
A shortage of funds and delays in processing land acquisition gazette notifications by the district administrations of Sialkot and Gujrat have hampered construction, according to the sources. Construction activities resumed in February 2026 and are now underway at full pace, sources added.
Funding and Land Acquisition Hold Up Progress
The report noted that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved sovereign guarantees worth Rs. 27.62 billion in August 2026 to facilitate the project’s financial close.
Sources told RBN that Prime Minister’s Office has identified faster land acquisition as a key requirement for completing the motorway. It has recommended that the prime minister direct Punjab’s chief secretary to expedite the process.
The project involves a 69-kilometer, six-lane motorway and includes a 1,043-meter bridge over the River Chenab. Once completed, the motorway is expected to improve connectivity between Sialkot and Kharian. The revised completion target is February 2028, subject to progress on financing and land acquisition.
