Govt rings in new year with toll tax hike

Toll taxes for highways and motorways have been increased to achieve a revenue target of Rs102 billion by the end of the ongoing fiscal year, it has emerged.

As per the details, the National Highways Authority (NHA) has announced the increase in toll taxes, which will come into effect on January 5.

Reports said that the hike has come for the third time in FY2024-25 against a revenue collection of Rs64 billion in FY2023-24.

The toll hike will affect multiple key routes, including the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1), Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway (M3), Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad-Multan Motorway (M4), Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M5), D I Khan-Hakla Motorway (M14) and the Mansehra Expressway.

As per the revised toll prices, motorists travelling on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M1) will pay a toll of Rs500 against the previous Rs460. Wagons will now be charged Rs750.

For trucks, the toll tax will be increased from Rs1,950 to Rs2,300, whereas buses will face an increase from Rs1,300 to Rs1,450.

On the M-3 motorway, the toll tax for cars has jumped from Rs650 to Rs700. Additionally, on the M-4 motorway from Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad and Multan, the toll tax has risen from Rs850 to Rs950. 

The toll tax to be paid on the M-5 motorway from Sukkur to Multan has increased from Rs1,050 to Rs1,100. On the M-14 motorway from Dera Ismail Khan to Hakla, the toll tax is now Rs600.

The toll for cars will increase from Rs50 to Rs60 on National Highways. Wagons will be charged Rs100, and buses will pay Rs200 against previous rates of Rs170. For 2 and 3-axle trucks, the tax will be Rs250, while articulated trucks will have to pay Rs500 against the earlier rate of Rs460.

Toll taxes have been raised at key locations such as the Kohat Tunnel (N55), Islamabad-Murree-Kohala Highway (N75) and Mianwali Toll Plaza (N135), reports said.

It is pertinent to note that after the latest hike, toll tax rates have been doubled within a period of seven months.