Islamabad: National Highway Authority (NHA) increased toll tax on key national highways and motorways by up to 30 percent, effective from October 1, 2024.

Increase will affect routes such as M1, M4 and M5 motorways, adding to travel expenses of commuters. According to latest notification issued by NHA, toll for cars on M1 Motorway, which connects Islamabad to Peshawar, has been increased to Rs 460 from previous rate of Rs 350. Similarly, travellers on M3 Motorway from Lahore to Abdul Hakeem will now pay Rs 650 instead of Rs 500.

Toll tax on M4 Motorway, which stretches from Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad and Multan has also seen substantial hike. Car owners will now pay Rs 850, up from Rs 650. Meanwhile, toll for cars on M5 Motorway from Multan to Sukkur has undergone sharp increase from Rs 900 to Rs 50,000 due to clerical error in initial announcement, which authorities are expected to rectify soon.

These recent adjustments are part of series of hikes in toll rates across Pakistan’s highway network. In August 2024, NHA had already increased toll tax on M2 Motorway, which runs between Lahore and Islamabad. Frequent increases have raised concerns among travellers, as cost of commuting continues to rise.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 02 2024

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