Route Planning / Road Condition Updates

[LostBear]

I see many queries regarding route planning and road condition update, then why not sum-up all in one platform for better guidance and information?

Lets come to my query, regarding Karachi to Islamabad journey, I usually took this route and found it convenient with less traffic;

Karachi - Multan - Jhang - Pindi Bhattian - Islamabad.

But now I'm thinking to take another route for change, which is;

Karachi - Taranda - Alipur - Muzzafargarh - Chowk Azam - Mianwali - Balkasar Interchange - Islamabad.

Is this route better in condition then above? and how is traffic there? Anyone who can guide me to go for change or be stick with first route?

Secondly, I plan to leave Karachi around 11 PM, but I heard N-5 in Sindh is still under construction, should I take alternate Mehran Highway (Nawabshah - Daur - Khairpur)? I can't make my mind as travelling in Sindh is something which always make tick tock in heads so can't decide whether stay and face diversions on N-5 or take Mehran Highway.

(P.S. I'll be travelling with family and kids, with a night stay plan in Multan or Muzaffargarh.)
@Libra

[HanifBhatti]

I took this route a month back, take it.
[I]Karachi - Taranda - Alipur - Muzzafargarh - Chowk Azam - Mianwali - Balkasar Interchange - Islamabad.

[/I]About Roads in Sindh...
Take Indus Highway....Khi-Jamshoro-Sehwan-Dadu-Moro-Sukkur (Daytime travel). Leave Karachi around 2am, just before Sehwan Sun will come up then all is good.

Road from Hyderabad to Moro is under construction, after Moro its good.

[Xoofi]

We just returned from Bahawalpur on Monday (3 days ago). Took Mehran highway (Sakrand - Nawabshah - Daur - Pacca Chang - Kumb - Kot Diji - Khairpur) both while going and while returning.. It was excellent decision because N5 is pathetic.

While on Mehran Highway be careful at Kumb through your GPS (both while going & returning) or you might end up back to N5 at Ranipur.

[LostBear]

I took this route a month back, take it.
[I]Karachi - Taranda - Alipur - Muzzafargarh - Chowk Azam - Mianwali - Balkasar Interchange - Islamabad.

[/I]About Roads in Sindh...
Take Indus Highway....Khi-Jamshoro-Sehwan-Dadu-Moro-Sukkur (Daytime travel). Leave Karachi around 2am, just before Sehwan Sun will come up then all is good.

Road from Hyderabad to Moro is under construction, after Moro its good.

Thank you HB for reply, much appreciated.

So it means Mianwali route is in good condition, I will take it.
For Sindh, do you recommend Mehran Highway as @xoofi suggested? Or should I stick to Dadu-Moro, I'm afraid road from Sehwan to Dadu/Moro will be in same bad condition as last year.

I planned to leave early because got to meet some peoples in Taranda, now have to reschedule whole plan.

[LostBear]

We just returned from Bahawalpur on Monday (3 days ago). Took Mehran highway (Sakrand - Nawabshah - Daur - Pacca Chang - Kumb - Kot Diji - Khairpur) both while going and while returning.. It was excellent decision because N5 is pathetic.

While on Mehran Highway be careful at Kumb through your GPS (both while going & returning) or you might end up back to N5 at Ranipur.

Thanks @xoofi

[LostBear]

We just returned from Bahawalpur on Monday (3 days ago). Took Mehran highway (Sakrand - Nawabshah - Daur - Pacca Chang - Kumb - Kot Diji - Khairpur) both while going and while returning.. It was excellent decision because N5 is pathetic.

While on Mehran Highway be careful at Kumb through your GPS (both while going & returning) or you might end up back to N5 at Ranipur.

@xoofi on what time you travelled on Mehran Highway? How you experience overall environment like security and tea stop-overs? I heard it's newly built so road should be top-noch. I'm leaving in a day or two so thinking to take this highway.

[Xoofi]

@Xoofi on what time you travelled on Mehran Highway? How you experience overall environment like security and tea stop-overs? I heard it's newly built so road should be top-noch. I'm leaving in a day or two so thinking to take this highway.

Road is excellent but single with very less traffic, just keep an eye on sudden bumps sometimes due to new patch being higher than the older one. We did not feel any issue of security, freely used DSLRs, mobile phones where ever we wanted, took pictures of bazaars & locals. We visited Kot Diji Fort, Old Haveli of Mir of Khairpur and also Mehrano Wildlife Refuge. In fact I have traveled on this route many times before to go to Pacca Chang for buying Qurbani goats. Tea stopovers are there but not as good as on national highway. Our travel time was during day. GPS would come in handy especially at Kumb because if you take wrong turn, you would end up at Ranipur (National highway).

[Xoofi]

Near Nawabshah

At Kumb Bazaar

Mehran Highway from Kot Diji Fort

[Wanderlust]

Road from Khushab to Naushera (Soon Sakesar valley) to Uchalli lake is in very bad condition.

[Wanderlust]

Road from Bahawalpur to Lal Sohanra National park is under construction........Expect dust and a number of diversions

[LostBear]

Road is excellent but single with very less traffic, just keep an eye on sudden bumps sometimes due to new patch being higher than the older one. We did not feel any issue of security, freely used DSLRs, mobile phones where ever we wanted, took pictures of bazaars & locals. We visited Kot Diji Fort, Old Haveli of Mir of Khairpur and also Mehrano Wildlife Refuge. In fact I have traveled on this route many times before to go to Pacca Chang for buying Qurbani goats. Tea stopovers are there but not as good as on national highway. Our travel time was during day. GPS would come in handy especially at Kumb because if you take wrong turn, you would end up at Ranipur (National highway).

Thanks brother, looks perfect and I'm taking this route. I'll have my GPS so keep an eye near Kumb.

[LostBear]

Road from Bahawalpur to Lal Sohanra National park is under construction........Expect dust and a number of diversions

You just saved me.

[Xoofi]

Thanks brother, looks perfect and I'm taking this route. I'll have my GPS so keep an eye near Kumb.

Thats great but it would be better if you travel in day time also Best of luck for your journey.

[Wanderlust]

We just returned from Bahawalpur on Monday (3 days ago). Took Mehran highway (Sakrand - Nawabshah - Daur - Pacca Chang - Kumb - Kot Diji - Khairpur) both while going and while returning.. It was excellent decision because N5 is pathetic.

While on Mehran Highway be careful at Kumb through your GPS (both while going & returning) or you might end up back to N5 at Ranipur.

Sufian, how is the road from Sukrund to Sadiqabad and from NawabShah to MirpurKhas?

[Xoofi]

Sufian, how is the road from Sukrund to Sadiqabad and from NawabShah to MirpurKhas?

Sakrand to khairpur via mehran highway as stated above is excellent. At khairpur it merges with N5 (National Highway). Khairpur to Ubaru (Sindh-Punjab border) is in construction phase with many diversions. From Punjab Kot Sabzal to Sadiqabad is sonewhat reasonable.

No idea about Nawabshah to Mirpurkhas as usually Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas route is used by Karachiites and its in best condition.

[Wanderlust]

Sakrand to khairpur via mehran highway as stated above is excellent. At khairpur it merges with N5 (National Highway). Khairpur to Ubaru (Sindh-Punjab border) is in construction phase with many diversions. From Punjab Kot Sabzal to Sadiqabad is sonewhat reasonable.

No idea about Nawabshah to Mirpurkhas as usually Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas route is used by Karachiites and its in best condition.

I think the best I can do is to ship my car through a car carrier some where in RYK where they are returning to Karachi empty. I have driven for 22 hours in a good/bad road situation but haggling with police......!

[farazuuu]

@xoofi
Planning to leave for lahore tmrw morning from hyd . wanted to ask few ques
What time should we leave so we can cross sindh in daylight ?
We are planning to stay in rahim yar khan . if we stay in rahim yar khan se can we reach lahore next day if we leave in morning ?
Also tell what route to take and guide the plan because we are going first time by road in our own car

Sent from my LG-LS980

[Xoofi]

@xoofi
Planning to leave for lahore tmrw morning from hyd . wanted to ask few ques
What time should we leave so we can cross sindh in daylight ?
We are planning to stay in rahim yar khan . if we stay in rahim yar khan se can we reach lahore next day if we leave in morning ?
Also tell what route to take and guide the plan because we are going first time by road in our own car

Sent from my LG-LS980

Yar leave as early as possible from HYD. Take Mehran highway from Sakrand.. connect back to national highway at khairpur.. and reach rahim yar khan by evening. Stay there and start early from RYK. Go from Multan southern bypass, do not take Single road from Lodhran to Khanewal. And keep following national highway until u reach LHR

[farazuuu]

Approx time to cover sindh ?
Then how much time from ryk to lhr ?

Sent from my LG-LS980

[Xoofi]

Approx time to cover sindh ?
Then how much time from ryk to lhr ?

Sent from my LG-LS980

If u leave hyd at 6, then u can reach RYK by evening before dusk. Same is for RYK to LHR