M-1 motorway (Pakistan)

The M-1 motorway or the Islamabad–Peshawar Motorway (Urdu: اسلام آباد - پشاور موٹروے) is an east–west motorway in Pakistan, connecting Peshawar to Islamabad–Rawalpindi.^[2]

M-1 motorway
ایم ١ موٹروے
Islamabad–Peshawar Motorway اسلام آباد - پشاور موٹروے
Route information
Part of AH1 AH4
Maintained by National Highway Authority
Length	155 km[1] (96 mi)
Existed	2007–present
Major junctions
West end	PRR Peshawar
Major intersections	Kernal Sher Khan Interchange Hazara Interchange Burhan Interchange Hakla Interchange
East end	Islamabad–Rawalpindi
Location
Country	Pakistan
Highway system
Roads in Pakistan
→ M-2

The motorway was constructed during President Pervez Musharraf's rule at a cost of Rs. 13 billion (equivalent to US$325 million in 2024), and was opened in October 2007.^[3] It spans 155 km (96 mi),^[2] with 88 km (55 mi) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 67 km (42 mi) in Punjab.

History

M-1 motorway westbound towards Peshawar.

Work on M-1 was started during Nawaz Sharif's tenure in 1997, and the contract was awarded to Turkish company Bayindar.^[4] However, the work stopped after his government was dismissed by Army Chief Pervez Musharraf in October 1999. Progress remained very slow and not much work was done between 1999 and 2003.^[4]

Work restarted in 2003 after the contract was re-awarded to a consortium PMC-JV during President Pervez Musharraf's tenure.^[4] A plan was made to connect the existing M-2 motorway with the Torkham border. In 2004, the Senate body was briefed on a plan to connect Gwadar Port with the existing motorway infrastructure. Hence, it highlighted importance of M-1 motorway in this context.^[5]

It was completed at a cost of Rs. 13 billion, and was inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on 30 October 2007.^[6][3]

Route

M-1 Peshawar toll plaza

The M-1 originates northeast of Peshawar at the junction with the Peshawar Ring Road. It then crosses over the Kabul River in an eastern direction passing the cities of Charsadda, Risalpur, Swabi, and Rashakai before crossing the Indus River. The M-1 leaves Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and enters into Punjab province, where it passes through Attock, Burhan, and Hasan Abdal. The M-1 terminates near Islamabad as a continuation of the M-2 motorway.

The whole stretch of the M-1 consists of six lanes, with a number of rest stops along the route. The M-1 has 14 interchanges - at Airport Link Road, Islamabad, AWT/ Sanjiani/ Paswal, Burma Bhatar, Burhan (Hassan Abadal/ Kamra), Hazara Expressway (E-35), Ghazi, Chachh, Sawabi, Rashakai, Charsadda, the Peshawar Northern Bypass and Peshawar Ring Road. At Brahma Bahtar Interchange, the Brahma Bahtar-Yarik Motorway leads towards Dera Ismail Khan.

There are three major bridges along the route along the Haro, Indus and Kabul rivers, 18 flyovers, 27 small bridges, 137 underpasses and 571 culverts. 10 service areas (five on the each side of the motorway) are present along the route.

Junctions and interchanges

M-1 Motorway Junctions
West bound exits	Junction	East bound exits
PRR Peshawar Ring Road		Start of motorway
to Peshawar-Charsadda Road	Peshawar Northern Bypass	to Chamkiani & N-5 National Highway
to Charsadda & KP Highway S-1	KP Highway S-9	to Nowshera
to Mardan, Rashakai & N-95 National Highway	N-45 National Highway	to Risalpur
to Swabi, Topi	KP Highway S-6	to Jehangira
to Ghorghushti		to Lawrencepur
to Hasan Abdal & N-35 National Highway	N-5 National Highway	to Burhan, Attock
to Taxila/Wah Cantt		to Fateh Jang
to Rawalpindi, Islamabad	Kashmir Highway	to Islamabad International Airport

See also

• Motorways of Pakistan
• National Highways of Pakistan
• Transport in Pakistan
• National Highway Authority