Islamabad to Karachi Road Trip July 2023

[bady]

Hello,

I have to take a road trip from Islamabad to Karachi next week in July. I would like to to have some help / guidance.

I am travelling with my family and I plan to leave very early in the morning and to stay for breakfast and lunch on the way.

It is about 16 hours of drive, I'll appreciate if anyone has any recommendations regarding hotels, availability of petrol or route information?

Will petrol be available on trip on the motorway from Multan onwards?

Any other tips / recommendations?

Thank you

[farhan_khan_h1]

On Multan~Sukkur motorway I've seen atleast 2 pumps yesterday while on national highway plenty of other pumps.
I fill it in Sukkur from Shell and then next in Karachi.

@waqar747 bhai gave me very good recommendations on my first trip. So I'll just give you the mixed summary.

Hotels in Sukkur:
Chen Inn
Hotel One

Route:
Till Sukkur you'll have motorway.
Start of Sukkur you'll have national highway, stay on that till Hyderabad. Then Hyderabad-Karachi Motorway. (The only Motorway where I've seen Bikes, Rikshaws as well )
Note: At QaziAhmed Google map will tell you to turn right (a kind of u-turn and then there's a single road till Khanote. Never ever trun there, it's a nightmare. Just stay on national highway.
This one:

NEVER, EVER turn there. Just go straight.

Food:
Homemade cooked or packed food. Personally I don't eat on the way, and for family I exit from the motorway and find the best one on google. On National highway only Taj hotels.

Do check weather conditions/reports/news before starting the journey.

Baqi best of luck, have a safe travels. Allah apka haami o nasir.

[chamernazir]

i was just curious to know that why you are not recommending to turn from Qazi Ahmed ?
have you used that route ?
is it not safe to travel on that route ?

[Skullbox]

Yes I was wondering the same. I travelled back in January 2023 on the same route and loved it. Saved a good couple of hours compared to the other route. Plus the road is newly carpeted and there is very less traffic. Not sure if anything has changed in the last 6 months. The single carriage road that you see on the map is around 10-12km, after that its a good 3 lane each side road.

[farhan_khan_h1]

• Single 2 way traffic road
• bikes, rikshaws, wrong ways
• Those buses tailgating you
• while from the oncoming traffic those Warraich, Jatois buses pushing you to edge.
• if there's a wedding then may God help that road and travelers.
• few KMs still was under construction during Feb.
• Everyone on that road behave like they are Max Verstappen on their next unbeaten prix.
  I will ditch this road if I am with family, I'll prefer 15, 20 minutes late than this aweful journey.

[farhan_khan_h1]

Also, the next toll on that road while I was handing over 30 rupees of that toll tax, the guy was saying to others: let him go, he's with family.
As I studied Sindhi till 9th standard, so could understand those duckers.

[farhan_khan_h1]

If someone can go on that road very early in the morning, then it can save you some time. I was around 1PM on that road and was with wife and a kid. I was on verge of loosing my patience on that road. Maybe it was me only but if someone their first time coming, I won't recommend them based on my personal experience.

[Skullbox]

Pretty strange that you witnessed this. Because i travelled on that road around the same time between 12-3PM. I only witnessed light traffic on the single carriage road but apart from that it was mostly empty till Jamshoro.

[sleeper]

I turned from that qazi ahmed in April.. that too in night. It was pitch black all round... The oncoming traffic would blind you even with low beams... There were some unexpected un even dug up patches initially which is hard to spot at 100kph.. need to be extremely vigilant... The guys at toll were very suspicious... Later road doubled with divider in between.. there were some abrupt sharp turns without markings anywhere.

It was a nightmare and never will i take that route again.. the N5 is fine and chill scene at day\night.. just need to navigate between heavy trucks going at 60kph... They won't move despite horns or flashes...dont bother and move around them saving ur time and temper.

[bady]

thank you for sending me such detailed asnwers, really appreciate it. I dont really mind travelling 15-20 minutes extra on N5 since it is the safer option and i am travelling with my mother.

[waqar747]

I have done this trip through this Indus highway many times. Fortunately been able to avoid the above issues but @farhan_khan_h1 is right. Better to prevent all these inconveniences and add another 15-20 mins to your travel duration.
Just for info's sake, I have usually travelled northwards between 8 am and 10 am (left Karachi 6 am) and the return used to be between 3pm and 5 pm. Maybe I have been lucky because of the timing.
Just took one trip yesterday as well as I am in Lahore currently. Was exactly the same as it has been previously. Btw, the single road part is only a few km's section out of the 100+ kms of the whole route till Qazi Ahmed.
I have to return next week, and will take the N5 this time as Farhan bhai has scared me

[farhan_khan_h1]

Hahah
Sorry Waqar bhai, but I had a horrible experience.
And it won't save that much time anyways:

Anyways, May Allah save everyone from any mishap. Ameen.

[waqar747]

Came back from Lahore yesterday and took the Indus highway again although I was extra vigilant this time due to the above experiences of others. I also stuck close to a group of karachi bound cars which included a couple of menacing looking Revos 🤪 just as a precaution.
Besides some truck traffic and a couple of donkeys that marched in to the middle of the road, this was otherwise ok. Entered around 4 pm and was out in around an hour I think.

[farhan_khan_h1]

I traveled in the morning alone around 7AM at that road and were empty as Politicians brain.
My first experience was very very bad, this one on the other hand was completely opposite

[faiq.zakai]

Any one please update the condition of N5 from Morro to Sukkur....

And please update about Fog Condition in Feb 2024..

[waqar747]

Travelled in 1st week Dec, Moro to Sukkur is generally ok. No major road works, and new carpeted road is good.
Feb fog conditions will be difficult to get right now.
For current fog updates with limited forecast, please check Pakistan Met website, NHA Facebook group, and even call motorway police for latest position.

[faiq.zakai]

Feb fog conditions will be difficult to get right now.

I just wanna know about the experienced travellers who opt travelling during this time frame. Might be they can share some of their past experiences about the fog condition during the month of Feb.

[farhan_khan_h1]

I traveled last year in Feb, as I crossed the motorway (ISB ~ SUKKUR) during the day time, and there wasn't any fog. As suggested by @waqar747 bhai, look at NHMP official site/FB/or X(formerly known as Twitter) for the real time updates. Their helpline is also very active so you can ask before embarking on the journey. Also, no fog from Sukkur to KHI. Make sure to travel during the day, specially in Sindh.

• https://beta.nhmp.gov.pk/TA/Public/ViewTravel.aspx
• https://www.facebook.com/NHMPofficial

I follow above before start my journey.

[faiq.zakai]

I traveled last year in Feb, as I crossed the motorway (ISB ~ SUKKUR) during the day time, and there wasn't any fog. As suggested by @waqar747 bhai, look at NHMP official site/FB/or X(formerly known as Twitter) for the real time updates. Their helpline is also very active so you can ask before embarking on the journey. Also, no fog from Sukkur to KHI. Make sure to travel during the day, specially in Sindh.

https://beta.nhmp.gov.pk/TA/Public/ViewTravel.aspx
https://www.facebook.com/NHMPofficial

I follow above before start my journey.

Thanks a lot Farhan, I hope this will be really helpful. and Yes I have a plan to leave at around 5:00 am from Karachi after Fajar Prayers and planning to touch Multan before Maghrib say around 6:00 to 6:30 pm. I an not a rush driver I wanna drive with sakoon...

[farhan_khan_h1]

Do give sadqah before starting the journey.

Take necessary stops, keep change during the Sindh journey as every toll plaza on national highway charge around 30 rupees.

Make sure to have M-Tag, as per new year rules you have to have M-Tag. Also fog lights should be working.

if with family then take necessary medicines e.g., for headache and nausea. If you like to have those refreshments like Kurleez, Lays and stuff, better to buy it beforehand from any cash & carry, would be a lot cheaper than to buy it on the way.

Good luck and safe travels!