M2 Motorway | Lahore to Islamabad | Nearby Housing Societies

M2 Motorway or Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, is Asia’s first and one of the most expensive motorways in the region. It is a north-south motorway in Pakistan, spanning over 375km.

It is a 6-lane expressway that runs entirely in Punjab, connecting Islamabad-Rawalpindi to Lahore. The M-2 Motorway is the continuation of the M-1 Motorway.

It crosses the M-4 Motorway (to Faisalabad) junction at Pindi Bhattian and the M-3 Motorway (to Multan) at Dera Saithan Wala.

The Motorway has Asia’s highest pillared bridges at the Khewar Salt Range section. It comprises 10 service areas (five on each side) and several rest areas to facilitate travelers. It is part of AH 1 and AH 4, while maintained by the National Highway Authority (NHA).

Table of Contents

History of M2 Motorway

The Lahore-Islamabad Motorway was planned during the first tenure of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. The project’s contract was given to the Daewoo Group of South Korea on a design-cum-construct basis.

Daewoo offered a loan of $379 million as supplier’s credit, covering 40% of the construction cost, but it eventually grew to $702 million. The remaining 60% paid by the government of Pakistan.

On 26 November 1997, Nawaz Sharif inaugurated it during his second term as Prime Minister of Pakistan.

In 2006, the Salt Range Section was upgraded due to several complaints from drivers. The upgrades consisted of better road line marking and an increased size of road signs to enhance visibility.

In 2016, the entire motorway was resurfaced for a smooth drive and new toll plazas were installed on every junction.

M2 Motorway Route

The Motorway begins in the west of Lahore, at the Thokar Niaz Baig Junction of National Highway (NH-5). It passes over the Ravi River and heads towards Sheikhupura. After it continues its journey toward the west and passes through the Khanqah Dogran Interchange. The motorway crosses the M-4 Junction at the Pindi Bhattian Interchange.

It proceeds towards Kallar Kahar and runs through the Kherwa Salt Range region. After crossing the Balkasar Interchange, the motorway enters the Rawalpindi region. It ends at the west of Rawalpindi at the junction of Islamabad Link Road and the M-1 Motorway.

The M-2 Motorway comprises six lanes, featuring rest areas, fuel stations, cafes and restaurants and motor repair workshops.

M2 Motorway Interchanges

The list of the M-2 Motorway interchanges is given below:

Zero Point Lahore Interchange: Start of the Motorway, Exit to NH-5
Babu Sabu Interchange: Exit to Lahore Ring Road (LRR) and Band Road to Chowk Yateem Khana
Faiz Pur Interchange: Exit to Shadhara Town and Lahore-Jaranawala Road
Kot Abul Malik Interchange: Exit to Sheikhupura
Kala Shah Kaku Interchange: Exit to NH-5, Lahore Bypass and Lahore-Sialkot Motorway (M-11)
Sheikhpura Interchange: Exit to Sheikhupura-Gujranwala Interchange
Hiran Minar Interchange: Exit to Jandiala-Sheikhupura Interchange, Hiran Minar, Sheikhupura and Jandiala Sher Khan.
Khanqah Dogran Interchange: Exit to Khanqah Dogran and Hafizabad
Sukheki Interchange: Exit to Sukheki and Hafizabad
Pindi Bhattian Interchange: Exit to M-4 Motorway (to Faisalabad), Jhang, Chinot and Wazirabad
Makhdoom Interchange: Exit to Sial-Phalia Road, Sial, Sargodha, Phalia and Gujrat
Kot Momin Interchange: Exit to Kot Momin, Bhalwal and Bhabra
Saalam Interchange: Exit to Sargodha-Gujrat Road, Sargodha, Bhalwal and Mandi Bhauddin
Bhera Interchange: Exit to Bhera-Jhawarian Road, Bhera, Shahpur, Jhawarian and Malakwal
Lilla Interchange: Exit to Pind Dadan Khan- Lilla Road, Lilla Town, Khushab, Pind Dadan Khan and Jhelum
Kallar Kahar Interchange: Exit to Kallar Kahar, Choa Saidanshah and Katas Raj Temples
Balkasar Interchange: Exit Chakwal-Talagang Road, Balkasar, Talagang and Chakwal
Neela Dullah Interchange: Exit to Neela-Basti Abdullah Road, Neela, Basti Abdullah and Bhagwal
Chakri Interchange: Exit to Chakri and Rawalpindi
Capital Smart City Interchange: Exit to Capital Smart City Housing Society
Thalian Interchange: Exit to New Islamabad International Airport and Thalian Interchange
Islamabad Interchange: End of Motorway, Continues as M-1 Motorway

M2 Motorway Service Areas

M-2 Motorway features service areas at the 5 locations throughout its route. These service areas are available on both sides. If heading towards Islamabad, the service areas are called the North Side, while towards Lahore, they are called the South Side. The average distance between two consecutive service areas is 60-80 km.

Below are the names of the Service Areas on the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway:

Sukheki Services Area
Sial Services Area
Bhera Services Area
Kallar Kahar Services Area
Chakri Services Area

Each service area features fuel stations, washrooms, cafes and restaurants and motor repair workshops.

M-2 Motorway and Real Estate

The M-2 (Lahore-Islamabad) Motorway has a positive impact on the real estate of Pakistan, particularly Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and areas along its route. Below are its notable impacts on the real estate sector:

1. Reduce Travel Time:

The motorway reduces travel time between the twin cities and Lahore, making it convenient for both residential and commercial properties.

2. Enhanced Accessibility:

It significantly improves the connectivity between the major cities, making it desirable for housing societies and commercial projects along the motorway route.

3. Boom in Housing Societies:

The motorway route witnessed the development of new housing societies due to enhanced accessibility. Various societies, such as Faisal Town Phase 2 Islamabad, Capital Smart City, Rudn Enclave Rawalpindi, Ravi Urban City Lahore, New Metro City Lahore and many others, benefit the most.

4. Investment Potential: The increase in housing demand near the motorway results in property value appreciation, offering high returns on investment (ROI) for both buyers and investors.

Final Verdict

Lahore-Islamabad (M-2) Motorway is a vital thoroughfare in Pakistan, connecting the Capital City to the Heart of Pakistan (Lahore). It not only reduces travel time between the major cities but also provides every travel comfort to the travelers.

The motorway has a direct and indirect impact on the real estate sector, including the emergence of new housing societies and property value appreciation.