Toll tax on highways and motorways increased by 30 per cent

ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) announced a steep increase in toll taxes for highways and motorways by almost 30 per cent across the country.

The new toll tax rate will be effective from October 1 on all categories of vehicles.

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Travelers using the Islamabad to Peshawar Motorway (M-1 motorway),will experience the most notable changes. The toll for cars rose from Rs350 to Rs460.

Similarly, for larger vehicles, the toll for wagons will be increase from Rs550 to Rs720, while busses will see their toll rise from Rs1,000 to Rs1,300.

Truck drivers will also face higher fee, with the toll increasing from Rs1,500 to Rs1,950.

The toll tax hike will  also affect several other major routes, including the Lahore to Abdul Hakeem motorway (M-3 motorway), Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad (M-4 motorway), the M-5 motorway, Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan) to Hakla (M-14 motorway), and the Mansehra Expressway, all of which will see a 30 per cent increased in toll rates.

On national highways, the toll for cars will rise from Rs40 to Rs50, while wagons will now be charged Rs90. Busses will incur a toll of Rs170, and two- and three-axle trucks will be charged Rs210.

For articulated trucks, the toll on national highways has been set at Rs460.

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Additional toll plazas, including those at the Kohat Tunnel on N-55, the Islamabad to Murree Kohala Highway on N-75 and the Mianwali to Muzaffargarh route on N-135 will also implement new toll rates.

The increase in toll taxes is expected to generate additional revenue for the National Highway Authority, as it is responsible for the maintenance and development of the road infrastructure.