M-4 motorway (Pakistan)

The M4 Motorway was planned as part of Pakistan's Motorway Network from Faisalabad to Multan. The ground breaking ceremony of the project was carried out by then Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani in 2009. At that time already constructed motorway from Faisalbabad to Pindi Bhattian was named as M3 Motorway, sometimes it was referred to as shortest motorway of Pakistan. However, in 2013 when Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister of Pakistan, another motorway from Lahore to Darkhana (Abdul Hakeem) was planned under CPEC to provide alternate route for traffic coming to & from Lahore, bounded for Multan & subsequently up till Karachi so as to avoid/ reduce congestion over already existing N-5. This new motorway was designated as M3 Motorway (Lahore Abdul Hakeem Motorway) & the previously named M3 Motorway (Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad) was merged with Faisalabad Multan Motorway & the entire stretch from Pindi Bhattian to Multan was named as M4 Motorway (Pindi Bhattian- Faisalabad- Multan Motorway).

The M4 Motorway (Faisalabad to Multan section) was inaugurated in parts, first being Faisalabad to Gojra, second was Multan to Khanewal (Shamkot), third being Gojra to Shorkot, fourth was Shorkot to Abdul Hakeem ( Shorkot to Abdul Hakeem became operational almost together with Lahore Abdul Hakeem (Darkhana) Motorway) & finally Abdul Hakim (Deen Pur) to Khanewal (Shamkot). The last section of M4 Motorway (Abdul Hakeem to Khanewal) was inaugurated by Foreign Minister of Pakistan Mr. Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The M4 Motorway was completed successfully by the end of Year 2019.

Pindi Bahttian to Faisalabad section of M4 Motorway was inaugurated in Year 2003.

The M4 begins near the M2 Pindi Bhattian Interchange and continues on a southwest course connecting the cities of Faisalabad, Gojra, Toba Tek Singh, Shorkot, Abdul Hakeem, Khanewal and Multan. And ends at Sher Shah Interachange giving exit to Multan Cantt over Shujabaad Road & itself continues as M5 Multan-Sukkur Motorway. It is connected to M3 Motorway (Lahore to Abdul Hakeem Motorway) near a village named Darkhana a few kilometers northeast of Abdul Hakeem Interchange. There is a separate Toll Plaza for Entrance/ Exit to/ from M3 Motorway.

Throughout its route/ course it passes through the Agricultural Lands of Central Punjab mainly.

M4 Motorway provides 04 separate exits/interchanges to Multan as follows:

1) Shamkot (Khanewal) Interchange- As the name implies, this interchange is meant for Khanewal city, yet it also provides shortest access to Multan city via N-5 & to DHA Multan. This interchange also provides nearest access to E-5 Expressway (Khanewal to Lodharan Expressway) & can be used by the traffic coming from Peshawar, Islamabad, Faisalabad & Lahore, bounded for Bahawalpur City.

2) Shah Rukn-e-Alam/ Makhdoom Rasheed Interchange- This interchange, named after Shrine located at Qila Kohna Qasim Multan, provides access to Multan City for traffic bounded for Multan Lari Adda (Buses Stands & Trucks Stands) mainly via Vehari Road, besides giving exit to Vehari city also.

3) Shah Shams Tabrez Interchange- This interchange located on N-5, also named after Shrine located near Ali Chowk Multan, provides access to Multan city for traffic bounded to BCG Chowk Multan & adjacent areas, and furthermore to Multan Institute of Kidney Diseases, Multan, along with providing exit to Bahawalpur city also.

4) Sher Shah Interchange- This interchange is located on Multan- Shujabad- Jalalpur Peerwala Highway, provides access to Multan Cantt. It also provides exit to Shujabad on one side & to Muzaffargarh, D.G. Khan, Sakhi Sarawar, Rakhi Gaj, Fort Munro, Loralai, Qila Saifullah & Quetta on other side. Rakhi Gaj being the place where Pakistan's 2nd Highest Pillared Bridges are located in the mountain ranges of Koh-e-Suleiman. Through this Sher Shah Interchange, the motorway itself continues as M5 (Multan to Sukkur) Motorway.