M-2 motorway (Pakistan)

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M-2 motorway
ایم ٢ موٹروے
لاہور-اسلام آباد موٹروے
Map
Route information
Part of AH1 AH4
Maintained by National Highway Authority
Length375 km (233 mi)
Existed1997–present
Major junctions
North end Islamabad
Major intersections M-4 Motorway Interchange
M-3 Motorway Interchange
Babu Sabu Interchange
South end Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore
Location
CountryPakistan
Major citiesChakwal
Mandi Bahauddin
Kallar Kahar
Bhalwal
Pindi Bhattian
Sheikhupura
Kot Abdul Malik
Highway system

The M-2 Motorway or the Lahore–Islamabad Motorway (Urdu: لاہور-اسلام آباد موٹروے) is a north–south motorway in Pakistan, connecting Rawalpindi/Islamabad to Lahore, and is the first motorway to have been built in South Asia.[1] The M-2 is 375 km long and located entirely in Punjab. It continues on to eventually become the M-1 motorway, which terminates in 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$2.8 billion in 2023) 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.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

  1. ^ Malik, Ahmad Rashid (3 September 2008). M2- Motorway Pakistan-Japan Relations: Continuity and Change in Economic Relations and Security Interests. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-04196-1.
  2. ^ "Lahore-Islamabad Motorway". 70 Years of Impact : SMEC. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  3. ^ PAF Conducts Fighter Operations From Motorway Pakistan Air Force website, Published 2 April 2010, Retrieved 10 October 2021
  4. ^ "Unregistered vehicles queued after mandatory imposition of M-tag on motorway". Dunya News. Retrieved 6 January 2022.