Road Transport in Pakistan: A Comprehensive Overview

Road transport serves as the lifeline of any nation, linking people, goods, and services across vast distances. In Pakistan, a country with a rich cultural heritage and diverse landscape, road transport plays a crucial role in driving the economy and facilitating the daily lives of its citizens. n this article, we aim to offer a detailed understanding of road transport in Pakistan. We will cover topics such as passenger transportation, freight transport, and the key road networks within the country. Our goal is to provide you with accessible information that will be valuable and easy to undestand.

Road Transport in Pakistan:

Road transport is the most common mode of transportation in Pakistan. It has been a major source of income for the country and its people since independence. The government provides various incentives to encourage the use of this form of transport, including tax breaks and exemptions.

Pakistan has a total road network of 260,048 kilometers. This includes 127,548 kilometers of paved roads and 132,500 kilometers of unpaved roads. The main road network in Pakistan is managed by the National Highway Authority (NHA).

Passenger Transportation in Pakistan:

Passenger transportation is an important part of road transport in Pakistan. There are several different modes of passenger transportation available in the country, including buses, cars, and rickshaws.

Bus Services:

Buses in Pakistan are one of the best ways of public transport in Pakistan for many cities with good passenger carrying capacity. Companies are modernizing their fleet with the latest buses, imported from different bus manufacturers in the world like China, Korea, and Japan, especially in the past ten years. Some of the buses are being assembled here in Pakistan where the main parts are imported from abroad. Most of these bus operators use Daewoo, Yutong, KingLong, Volvo, and Higer luxury buses.

There are several bus companies in Pakistan, unfortunately, all of them are private and offer acceptable bus services around the country. Daewoo Express, Faisal Movers, Sada Bahar, Road Master, Waraich Express, Niazi Express, and Skyways are some of the major bus operators.  You can also check out the list of the top 10 bus companies here.

For more details on Pakistan Travel, navigate to https://pakistanhd.com/

Related Topics: How to Buy Bus Tickets in Pakistan, How to Travel from Karachi to Swat, 

 Cars & Cabs:

Taxis are an excellent option for students who live in areas where there is no public transportation or who need to travel long distances by foot or bicycle, such as from a university campus to the city center.

Ridesharing services such as Uber, Careem, and InDrive are less expensive alternatives to taxis. You can use an app on your phone to enter your location and destination, and a driver will pick you up and take you to your destination for a far cheaper price than a taxi would charge.

Freight Transport in Pakistan:

Freight transport is also an important part of road transport in Pakistan. The main modes of freight transportation are trucks and lorries. Several trucking companies operate nationwide, like NLC (National Logistics Cell), Agility, FM Logistics Cell, Bashir Sons, and many others . A large portion of freight traffic in Pakistan travels through the Port of Karachi, which is one of the busiest ports in the Arabian Sea.

Main Motorways and Highways in Pakistan:

The most important motorway in Pakistan is the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway, known as the M-2. This motorway connects the two largest cities in Pakistan: Lahore and Islamabad. Other important highways include the Lahore-Abdul Hakim Motorway (M-4), Peshawar-Islamabad (M-1), Multan – Sukkur (M-5)

A detailed list of motorways in Pakistan is given below:

The NHA is responsible for 39 national highways/motorways/expressways/strategic routes, which have a total length of 12,131 kilometers. It is 4.6% of the overall road network and accounts for 78 percent of commercial traffic in Pakistan, yet it carries just 65% of the country’s total cargo volume.

Read More on the official website of NHA: https://nha.gov.pk/

Other Means of Transportation in Pakistan:

Rail Transport: Pakistan Railways operates an extensive network of regular train services that span across the entire country, catering to both passenger and freight transportation needs. With a history dating back to the British colonial era, Pakistan Railways continues to serve as a vital mode of transportation, connecting major cities, towns, and remote areas alike. The railway network in Pakistan offers convenient and affordable options for commuters and facilitates the efficient movement of goods and cargo, contributing to the country’s economic growth and development.

Air Transport: Air transport in Pakistan has nationwide and international operations. Islamabad International Airport serves as an international gateway to the country. Other airports include Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Quetta.

Sea Transport: Several ports in Pakistan handle both import and export cargo. The most important Ports are Karachi & Gwadar.

Key Takeaway:

Road transport is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy as it carries more than 70% of the country’s cargo. The sector employs around 12 million people and contributes 20% to the GDP. Road transport infrastructure is not up to the mark in some areas, which has resulted in excessive traffic congestion in some cities. There is a dire need for improvement in this sector to meet the needs of a growing economy.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions