Karachi to Lahore by Road - Need Suggestions

[waqar747]

I did my return trip and this is how it went. I decided to stop in Sukkur this time as it is more midway. We left Lahore at 10 in the morning and took the M3 to Abdul Hakim without stops, and then the M4 to Sukkur with a couple of 15-20 mins drinks / prayers breaks. Overall it was mostly stress-free cruise-at-120 driving and it was just the time on the seat that was tiring.
The full tank filled up at Lahore lasted me till about 150-200 km from Sukkur. Filled up 2000's worth on a Go station where we took the break and then reached Sukkur with a bit left in the tank. The average was unfortunately still hovering around 12.5 (1.8 Grande FL). People do get better average than this and I don't know why a sitting at 120 on cruise on almost an uninterrupted drive wouldn't produce a better average.
We reached Sukkur at 6 and stayed at Hotel One, which is right at the city's entrance. It was reasonably clean and service was ok
Left Sukkur next morning at 8 and I was dreading the N5 traffic and interruptions, but somehow we were able to keep going without slowing down at too many places, and no jams thankfully. We made it to Hyderabad around 12 and decided not to take a break and continue to Karachi. We were home before 2 pm, which means we did this leg in less than 6 hours, albeit without any breaks. The full tank filled in Sukkur lasted me till home with some left in the tank. The average should still be around 12.5-13 kmpl.
Total driving time for the trip was less than 14 hours.
The car behaved well overall, and I think I would have been a bit more tired had I taken my Civic X instead. The overall space inside the car was also a bit more and the kids was able to stretch and settle. We were two adults travelling with a 1 yr old in a car seat (took up a lot of the back seat space), and a 5 and an 11 yr old in the rest of the back seat. The kids were mostly ok. Luggage was also filled to the brim, boot totally packed and some small bags in the cabin as well. Probably would have affected the average as well.
Overall, since this was my first such trip, it was a good experience and I learned a bit about how to manage it. Hopefully will have these again Inshallah and I would recommend all those thinking to do give it a try if you enjoy driving.
Hopefully in the future we will have a clean motorway going up from Hyderabad to Sukkur as well, which should reduce the travelling time even further.

[mehran]

Glad you made it safely to Karachi. You were brave to drive on without topping up at Multan. I would recommend to top up as soon as tank is 3/4 empty.

[waqar747]

Yes, that is an important point. Next time i will be careful to fill up before I reach quarter tank.

[hassangr8]

Bro can you share where you hv stayed at Sukkur? How you ranked the with family ponit of you, Thanks

[waqar747]

Sukkur stay was in Hotel One (a budget chain of hotels by PC). It wasn't cheap (10K + tax for a family room with an extra mattress). The room was clean, relatively spacious and the service was good.
I think other options are also available in a cheaper budget, but unfortunately not too many with the cleanliness and safety standards in today's COVID times.

[hassangr8]

Thanks Bro. Just to add cents Hotel One Sukkur is not up to the mark as we find it in other cities. It's bit rough as it is being maintain run by Royal Taj Chain....

[waqar747]

Yes, could be true. Haven't tried any others recently, stayed in one in Lahore around 12 years ago so that won't count.

[r.farookee]

There isn't a post on this topic since Jul'21.I am planning a trip to Lahore around 14Mar'22.Anybody who may have undertaken this trip recently may kindly add any new experience.However I am still not sure from the comments above if its better to take N55 via Jhamshoro/Qazi Ahmed to N5 or go straight on N5 past Hyderabad.
Is there a way one can get an M-Tag rather than stopping at every Toll Plaza.Can we get M-Tag from Sukkur to Lahore for instance.Leaving at 6.00am should get us to Royal Taj Hotel for Tea/Break/Fuel.Not stopping at Sukkur for any lunch but will again take a short break on Sukkur-Multan motorway and another one midway on Multan-Lahore stretch.Driving at comfortable speed and with short stops as above should I take it as a 13 hrs journey Karachi-Lahore.Any comments would be appreciated.

[capsat]

call up NHMP help line 130, i believe you can get MTAG from NHMP Office at GADAP crossing office,
@afarooqi

[mehran]

I did the journey in June 2020. M Tag (for motorways)can now be issued at all Motorway Toll Plazas and are valid on M1 and M2 parts of the Motorway network (M tag not available on M4) . You should be able to get it at the Sukker toll plaza. I followed N5 from Hyderabad to Sukker and it was perfectly fine. I was travelling with family and didn't take the N55 route as everyone I knew recommended N5.

[chinyoti]

N55 is better saves about an hour. The entire road is newly build and I would say is better then karachi Hyderabad motorway.

Mtag is avalible 24/7 you can get a mtag issued at karachi just before karachi toll plaza.

It is useful at Hyderabad toll plaza and then usefull at lahore

For smaller cities between Hyderabad and sukker and till lahore you will have to use cash.

Only lahore Islamabad and Islamabad Peshawar motorways are fully automated.

Rest is all 50/50.

If you leave early around 6 am. You'll cross Moro taj before lunch you can get a tea break. Taj hotel at rohri is a better place (time wise for lunch) just a few kilometers after where motorway M5 starts.

You'll have to make a Uturn and come back to start motorway.

You can also have a tea break and refuel before motorway starts at bedal petrol pump.

If you refuel at bedal and have lunch at Rohri Taj hotel, you won't have to stop anywhere on 380 km sukkher multan motorway. Taj hotel Rohri also has a Shell pump we refulled from there.

Their are atleast 3 petrol pumps functional on both sides (total 6) on the 380 km motorway.

Location for Taj hotel Rohri (it's on main road you Shell Pump) don't make google take u inside lanes)

Royal Taj Restaurant Rohri
0345 8250815
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mudjaAFfsKxJYCDm8

PSO Beadal Petroleum Services
0305 5665158
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vtb3ehxthNfVUY2M6

[waqar747]

Going straight past Hyderabad is a slightly longer option but the road is better as it is dual throughout. The other road is a single road with two way traffic and usually safe but with family, the other road is a better option.
I think you should be able to register and get mtag from Karachi. Haven’t tried it though but they seem to have a counter at the toll.
Your time and plan looks ok but it will take a bit longer than 13 hours with the breaks. I think around 15 hours is a safer bet depending on the traffic you face from Hyderabad to Sukkur. If there are two drivers, it is possible to do above without much issue.
Sukkur onwards it is a smooth stress free journey.
Pls get your vehicle checked for general maintenance before going. Key things are tires, engine cooling system, engine oil and filters, battery and lights.

[r.farookee]

Another question.We are driving a car which has been bought recently.Proper transfer and new owner's name appearing in the system.As the new smart Registration card(old blue registration book replacement) has still not been issued and not likely to be issued we are driving with a photocopy of The Excise and Taxation Dept paper showing payment of Smart card,Transfer Fee,WHT.The old original counterfoil of Blue registration book is also there and one of the occupants on the journey is the previous owner.Do you think we could have any problems just coz we do not have original papers (delayed by Excise)

[afarooqi]

Mtag availability only from Khi-Hyd, Then all parchi system all the way till Sukkur Lahore motorway, even M5. Near Lahore (iforgot the name) mtag till lahore. MTag is available at Karachi Toll Plaza, Hyderabad toll, and Lahore Ravi toll.

The N55 is better road and less congested, but very low on traffic, so it feels a little unsafe. Yes it surely save time.
PS. I travelled in Jan'22, MTAG availability may have increased.

[chinyoti]

Only single road is the bridge between amri and qazi ahmed. Rest all of n55 is double and newly made.

It is perfect for day time travel. Not too much traffic

[chinyoti]

No, the receipt issued by excise is sufficient, also for mtag you'll need a vacation card. Keep that in mind.

[crema]

Vaccination card?

I was not asked, while getting my M Tag a month ago.
They gave a recipt that contained details also I get text msg updates for the car movement across the M Tag gates.

Like a car tracker

Online Rcharge can be done by easy paisa

[chinyoti]

My uncle went last month

They said 3 things they need

CNIC
VACCINE CARD
THE CAR PHYSICALLY (WHOOSE MTAG IS BEING ISSUED)

Abi gari ki registration k liye b manglia hai vaccnination card

[crema]

Thats something stange and funny

I was releived with:
CNIC
Car reg book (no originals I keep a colored copy in the car)
Phisical presence of car.
They asked my phone number to register with the M Tag ID

[farooq05]

yes, it was the only requirement i get my car enrolled for M-Tag.