The M-2 Motorway or the Lahore–Islamabad Motorway () is a north–south motorway in Pakistan, connecting Rawalpindi/Islamabad to Lahore, and is the first motorway to have been built in South Asia. The M-2 is long and located entirely in Punjab. It continues on to eventually become the M-1 motorway, connecting Islamabad and Peshawar. The M-2 crosses the junction of M-4 (to Faisalabad) at Pindi Bhattian and M-3 (to Multan) at Dera Saithan Wala. The motorway is also a part of the Asian Highway AH1. The motorway was constructed during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's rule and cost over Rs. 60 billion (equivalent to US$ billion in ) and was opened in November 1997. One of the most expensive motorways in Asia, it also has one of the highest pillared-bridges in Asia at the Khewra Salt Range section.

There are ten service and rest areas on both sides of the motorway, with fueling, car wash, and car-repair facilities, and fast-food restaurants such as KFC, McDonald's, and Gloria Jean's Coffees, among others.PAF Conducts Fighter Operations From Motorway Pakistan Air Force website, Published 2 April 2010, Retrieved 10 October 2021

In 2016, the entire motorway was resurfaced—work that stretched over several months. New toll plazas were installed on every interchange. They are payable with a new M-tag system that was introduced in December 2021.

History The M-2 was conceived by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his first term (1990–1993). The contract was awarded to Daewoo Group of South Korea on 30 December 1991 at a cost of Rs. 23,686 billion on a design-cum-construct basis. The original contract was for a four-lane facility.

Daewoo provided a loan of $379 million as supplier's credit, covering 40% of the construction cost. The loaned amount would eventually grow to $702 million. The other 60% of the cost would be paid by the government.Motorway cost exceeds Rs60 billion Dawn (newspaper), Published 4 December 2002, Retrieved 10 October 2021

The motorway was inaugurated on November 26, 1997, during Sharif's second term. In late 2006, upgrades were made to the portion of the M-2 passing through the Salt Range due to increasing complaints of drivers. The upgrades included better marking of the road lines and increased size of road signs for easy visibility. Between 2014-2016, the M-2 motorway was resurfaced, rengineered and reconstructed for a smooth and safer drive by the FWO (Frontier Works Organisation).

Route

The M-2 starts to the west of Lahore, at the Thokar Niaz Baig junction of N-5 (National Highway 5). Once it crosses the Ravi River, it diverges from the N-5 (also known as Grand Trunk Road) and heads west towards Sheikhupura. After passing the Sheikhupura Interchange, the Khanqah Dogran Interchange comes at a distance of 36 km from the Sheikhupura Interchange. Once at Pindi Bhattian, it crosses the M-4 junction and turns north-west. It continues all the way to Kallar Kahar, where it enters the Salt Range. Past the Salt Range, the M-2 turns north and ends just west of Rawalpindi at the junction between the Islamabad Link Road and the M-1. It then continues on to eventually become the M-1 motorway, linking Islamabad and Rawalpindi with Peshawar.

The whole stretch of the M-2 consists of six lanes. There are a number of rest areas along the route, with eateries, washroom, fuel stations, and vehicle maintenance workshops.

Interchanges M-2 Motorway Junctions Interchange Junction West bound exits East bound exits M-2 Zero Point, Lahore Start of motorway Road continues as Abdul Sattar Edhi Road to Lahore , to Lahore Babu Sabu Interchange to Chowk Yatim Khana, to Chowk Yatim Khana, M-3 Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Faiz Pure Interchange to Jaranwala to Shahdara Town, Lahore Kot Abdul Malik Interchange Kala Shah Kaku Interchange to Kala Shah Kaku & to Kala Shah Kaku & Sheikhupura Interchange to Sheikhupura to Gujranwala Hiran Minar Interchange to Hiran Minar, Sheikhupura to Jandiala Sher Khan Khanqah Dogran Interchange to Khanqah Dogran to Hafizabad Sukheki Interchange to Sukheki to Hafizabad M-4 Pindi Bhattian-Multan Pindi Bhattian Interchange to Pindi Bhattian, Chiniot & Jhang to Wazirabad Makhdoom Interchange to Sial More & Sargodha to Phalia & Gujrat Kot Momin Interchange Kot Momin, Bhalwal Bhabra Saalam Interchange to Bhalwal, Sargodha to Mandi Bahauddin Bhera Interchange to Jhawarian, Shahpur to Bhera, Malakwal Lilla Interchange to Lilla Town, Khushab to Pind Dadan Khan, Jhelum Kallar Kahar Interchange Kallar Kahar Choa Saidanshah, Katas Raj TemplesBalkasar Interchange to Balkassar, Talagang to Chakwal Neelah Dullah Interchange M-2 to Neela to Basti Abdullah & Bhagwal Chakri Interchange to Chakri to RawalpindiCapital Smart City Interchange to Capital Smart CityThalian InterchangeExit 22Access Road for Islamabad International AirportRawalpindi Ring Road (future)Islamabad InterchangeExit 23 Road continues as to Peshawar Start of

Fuel stations and Service Areas

Fuel Stations are only available at 5 locations on each side of the road (North & South), These places are called Services Areas (or )

Sukheki Services Area - Sial Services Area - Bhera Services Area – Kalar Kahar Services Area - Chakri Services Area -

These services areas are on both sides of the roads, as crossing from inside the motorway is not possible. While coming from Lahore to Islamabad, the Services Areas are called North Sides (going towards north) whereas coming back towards Lahore the services areas are called South Sides (going towards South Side). For example, Sukheki North Service Area is when a traveller is coming from Lahore to Islamabad, while Sukheki South Services Area is found when going towards Lahore. Average distance between any two service areas is 60–80 km.

Rest areas Other than Services Areas for the facilities of commuters, the FWO has granted licences for Rest Areas with some basic services. The Rest Areas are being operated by private investors under the supervision of Frontier Works Organization (FWO). Bake & Bite is operating these Rest Areas. Moreover, the Rest Areas contain the following services/amenities on each side of the location:

Mosque Fast Food Restaurants (including KFC, McDonald's, Hardee's, and Subway at some service areas) Bakery Tuck Shop Washrooms Workshops Petrol pumps

Entry points for Islamabad and Lahore on M-2

Islamabad Entry Points

Balkasar Interchange Chakri Interchange Thalian Interchange (WARNING: It is better to take the main Islamabad exit because if you take this exit, you will need to go through Islamabad Airport). Islamabad Interchange

Lahore Entry Points

Kot Abdul Malik Interchange Kala Shah Kaku Interchange Babu Sabu interchange. Thokar Niaz Baig interchange.

Gallery

See also Motorways of Pakistan National Highways of Pakistan National Highway Authority (Pakistan) National Highways and Motorway Police

References

External links