The Lyari Expressway is a 16.5 km, four-lane toll highway in Karachi, in the Sindh province of Pakistan.
All you need to know about Karachi’s Lyari Expressway
The highway features four interchanges, several bridges, and connects major areas. These areas include Karachi’s Sohrab Goth and Mauripur.
It runs along the Lyari River and helps reduce traffic congestion in the city.
Recent upgrades also include improved road surfaces, LED lighting, side barriers, and modern toll plazas. These have proven to be great releif for the prople of Karachi.
Lyari expressway location
The Lyari Expressway starts at the North Lyari Bridge near Sohrab Goth and ends at the South Lyari Bridge on Mauripur Road.
It passes through areas like Liaquatabad and Lasbela. The highway has two carriageways, four interchanges, six overpasses in each direction, three nullah bridges, and one bridge over a graveyard.
Lyari expressway toll plazas
The expressway has four main toll plazas with manual collection:
- Sohrab Goth Toll Plaza at the northern end near M-9 Motorway
- Gharibabad Toll Plaza near Federal B Area and Gulshan-e-Iqbal
- Old Golimar (Awan) Toll Plaza serving Mangopir Road and Garden areas
- Mauripur Toll Plaza at the southern end near Shershah and Karachi Port
The expressway provides a fast route to bypass inner-city traffic. Toll rates for cars were increased to PKR 70 in January 2024.
Lyari elevated freight corridor
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Affairs raised concerns about the Rs164 billion cost of the Lyari Elevated Freight Corridor. This was proposed under Korean Exim Bank financing.
The committee suggested completing the project using local funds through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) at an estimated cost of Rs88.6 billion.
The local design would use concrete bridges instead of imported steel, saving billions.
The project could be completed in three years with annual allocations of around Rs40 billion.
To improve water supply to Lyari & its adjoining areas & curb water theft, an elevated water supply line is being laid along Lyari Expressway by KWSC which will bring dedicated 10 MGD water to local residents. This was a commitment of Chairman PPP in his election manifesto pic.twitter.com/QngunBZOiz
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) February 7, 2026
Is Lyari expressway open today?
The Lyari Expressway is open as of today. Main toll plazas, including Garibabad, are working 24 hours a day.
Some sections may have temporary closures due to maintenance or ongoing construction on the Lyari Elevated Freight Corridor. This aims to support container transport by mid-2026.
Lyari expressway garden interchange
The Garden Interchange, also called Garden South/West, is a key entry and exit point on the expressway.
It connects central Karachi to northern areas such as Sohrab Goth and the M-9 Motorway.
The interchange became fully operational in January 2018 after 15 years of construction.
Hawksbay extension
Authorities are planning to extend the Lyari Expressway toward Hawksbay to create a faster link from Karachi Port and Mauripur Industrial Area to the M-9 Motorway.
A Harbour Front Bridge is also planned to connect the deep-sea port to the expressway.
It will form a ring road for Karachi. Feasibility studies have been completed, but full-scale construction is still in planning.
Karachi: motorway projects
Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said work on the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) will start in May 2026 under a Public-Private Partnership model.
The Sialkot-Kharian Motorway (M-12) will now be built as a six-lane highway to meet future traffic needs.
Plans also include linking motorways to religious tourism centres to boost economic benefits.
The Lyari Expressway remains a critical route in Karachi. It supports the traffic flow, freight movement, and ongoing infrastructure development.
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