The Indus Highway (N-55) is the road that takes you from the Kotri and Jamshoro area up the west bank of the Indus to Sehwan Sharif, Dadu and onward to Larkana. Most of it is dual carriageway now, but a stretch between Jamshoro and Sehwan was still incomplete in early 2026, and that section has a bad accident record. It is a road to drive in daylight, carefully, and without hurrying.
This guide covers the route, the state of the road, what is worth stopping for and what you should check before setting out.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Road | N-55, Indus Highway; 1,264 km in all, from Karachi to Peshawar via Dera Ghazi Khan |
| Sindh section covered here | Kotri and Jamshoro to Sehwan, then Dadu |
| Jamshoro to Sehwan | Planned as a 130 km dual carriageway; a final stretch was still unfinished in 2025 and early 2026 |
| Hyderabad to Sehwan | About 130 km (sources give roughly this) |
| Sehwan to Dadu | About 48 km by road |
| Best time | November to February; avoid driving at night |
What is the Indus Highway?
The N-55 is a two to four-lane national highway that follows the Indus from Karachi to Peshawar. In Sindh it links Kotri, Jamshoro, Sehwan, Dadu and Larkana.
Route: Kotri, Jamshoro, Sehwan, Dadu
- Kotri and Jamshoro. From Karachi you reach this area via Hyderabad. The highway runs through Jamshoro and then north.
- Jamshoro to Sehwan. A road project to make this 130 km section a dual carriageway began in December 2017 at a cost of Rs14 billion. Most of the section from Jamshoro to Aamri has been upgraded, but a stretch around Khanoth and Manjhand was still waiting to be finished. In May 2025, Dawn reported that the final 24 km was still incomplete.
- Sehwan Sharif. The home of the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, about 130 km north-west of Hyderabad.
- Sehwan to Dadu. About 48 km by road,.
- Dadu onward to Larkana. About 130 km by road according to a distance calculator, and the way to Mohenjo-daro.
Allow a long half-day from Hyderabad to Dadu with stops. Drive times vary with traffic and the work zones, so treat any figure online as a rough guide.
What is the road condition like?
The surface is generally usable, but the layout is the problem. Where the road remains single carriageway, you share it with heavy trucks, buses and tankers, and overtaking is where accidents happen. Dawn reported in April 2024 that motorway officials had identified 10 dangerous sharp turns on the highway, and that 115 people had died and 317 were injured in 97 accidents on the incomplete section in the previous four years. A letter from the Sindh chief secretary in 2025 gave a five-year figure of 197 accidents and over 156 deaths.
What that means for you:
- Drive in daylight and keep to a moderate speed.
- Do not overtake on bends or when you cannot see well ahead.
- Keep a good distance behind trucks and be ready for slow vehicles, carts and animals near villages.
- Do not drive tired. If you plan a long day, start early.
- After the monsoon, flood damage and repairs can slow the road. Ask locally.
What is worth stopping for?
- Sehwan Sharif: the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims a year. Read our Sehwan Sharif guide, and remember that the shrine has its own rules and busy periods.
- Sehwan Fort: the historic fort at Sehwan. See the Sehwan Fort guide.
- Manchar Lake: about 18 km from Sehwan, home to the Mohana boat people. See our Manchar Lake guide.
- Dadu: a base for the wider district. Our places to visit in Dadu lists what is near.
- Mohenjo-daro: the logical next leg beyond Dadu and Larkana. See Mohenjo-daro.
For a whole itinerary built around this corridor, see our Sindh road trip. For general planning use the travel guide.
Is it safe to drive the Indus Highway in Sindh?
There are two separate concerns. One is road safety, covered above. The other is security. The UK government's travel advice (updated September 2026) advises against all but essential travel to the part of Sindh north of Nawabshah, and Sehwan and Dadu lie in that area. In February 2017 a suicide bomber attacked the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Sehwan, killing at least 83 people. Pakistani travellers still use this route and visit these towns, but check local news and police advice before setting out and avoid night driving. Foreign-passport holders should read their own government's advice, because travelling against it can void insurance. Our post on whether Sehwan Sharif is safe goes into this more.
Is the Indus Highway worth driving?
It suits people who are heading to Sehwan, Manchar, Dadu or Mohenjo-daro and want to see inland Sindh from the road. It does not suit a nervous driver or a family wanting an easy trip, because of the trucks and the unfinished section. Some travellers prefer to fly or take a train to Sukkur or Larkana and hire a car there.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Indus Highway?
The whole N-55 is 1,264 km, from Karachi to Peshawar via Dera Ghazi Khan. The Sindh part covered here is only a section.
Is the Jamshoro to Sehwan road complete?
Not fully, as of the latest reports we found (2025 and early 2026). Most of the dual carriageway is built, but a final stretch was still unfinished. Check local conditions before you go.
How far is Sehwan from Hyderabad?
About 130 km, along the Indus Highway.
Is the Indus Highway dangerous?
The incomplete stretch has a serious accident record, mostly from collisions involving trucks, buses and tankers. Drive in daylight, slowly, and avoid risky overtaking.
Can I drive from Sehwan to Dadu in one go?
Yes, it is about 48 km. Most visitors stop at Manchar Lake or Sehwan Fort along the way.
