The land dispute between the Sindh government and the National Highway Authority (NHA) over the M-9 Super Highway has intensified. The NHA has refused to pay for the required land, while the Sindh government has declined to transfer it without payment. As tensions rise, the matter has now reached the Sindh High Court.
The NHA approached the court seeking a resolution. In response, the court ordered the formation of a committee led by the Sindh Chief Secretary to resolve the issue within 30 days. The committee has recommended that the NHA should pay for the land. Meanwhile, the NHA Chairman has sent a formal letter to the Sindh Chief Secretary requesting land transfer.
The M-9 project involves expanding the highway from four to six lanes. The extension is nearing final stages, with an agreement renewal underway with a Malaysian construction firm. However, land acquisition remains a key obstacle to progress. The Sindh government had, in 2012, made land allotment conditional on payment. Official reports now confirm that NHA lacks funds for land acquisition.
The project requires 1,347 acres in Malir, 4,954 acres in Jamshoro, and 1,340 acres in Thatta. The land record report notes the current highway width as 264 feet, while NHA proposes to expand it to 640 feet. Discrepancies in land measurements and incomplete applications have added to the confusion.
According to documents, the M-9 Highway stretches 152 kilometers, but NHA has only applied for 136 kilometers. It has not submitted any land request for Karachi’s eastern district. The Sindh government canceled the 2017 land allotment decision. Now, the Sindh High Court has ordered a joint land survey and demanded a full report to resolve the matter swiftly.