NHA to increase toll taxes – Here’s what you need to know

• Ali Laghari


• 19 Dec 2017

Due to rising inflation in the country, National Highway Authority (NHA) is planning to increase the toll tax for motorways and national highways, said the authority. According to the details available to us, National Highway Authority has proposed an increase of 8 percent in toll taxes besides the surcharge for each transaction which is PKR 50. The authority has pleaded that the inflation rate in the country has reached to 4.3 percent in the current year, so the increase in toll taxes is necessary to meet the goals.

Also Read: Rawalpindi and Islamabad to get tour buses this week

The important thing which I would like to mention here is that almost 80 percent of the country’s commuters use NHA roads while NHA road network only comprises 4.6 percent of country’s overall road network. Our research shows that besides the rise in the inflation rate, due to growing need for maintaining national highways the authority is pleading for the rise in toll tax.

The authority has proposed an increase in toll taxes under following points:

• Inflation has increased to 4.3 percent from 2.8 percent
• Increased maintenance cost
• Hike in toll tax rate was due on 1 July 2017 but was withheld due to constant pressure from Senate and other concerned parties.

Moving onward, National Highway Authority has urged to increase the toll tax rates on different routes and vehicles as mentioned below:

Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway

• Cars: Existing PKR 210, Proposed PKR 230
• Trucks: Existing PKR 1,120, Proposed PKR 1,210
• Wagon up to 12 seats: Existing PKR 350, Proposed PKR 380
• Wagon 13-24 seat coaster: Existing PKR 490, Proposed PKR 530

Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad Motorway

• Cars: Existing PKR 90, Proposed PKR 100
• Trucks: Existing PKR 430, Proposed PKR 460
• Wagon up to 12 seats: Existing PKR 130, Proposed PKR 140
• Wagon 13-24 seat coaster: Existing PKR 190, Proposed PKR 210

Faisalabad-Gojra section

• Cars: Existing PKR 90, Proposed PKR 100
• Trucks: Existing PKR 430, Proposed PKR 460
• Wagon up to 12 seats: Existing PKR 130, Proposed PKR 140
• Wagon 13-24 seat coaster: Existing PKR 190, Proposed PKR 210

Khanewal-Multan section

• Cars: Existing PKR 90, Proposed PKR 100
• Trucks: Existing PKR 410, Proposed PKR 440
• Wagon up to 12 seats: Existing PKR 130, Proposed PKR 140
• Wagon 13-24 seat coaster: Existing PKR 180, Proposed PKR 190

The toll taxes are proposed for 1st July 2018 for three years. Moreover, the surcharge of PKR 20 will be charged for cars, wagon, minibus, and PKR 50 for trucks for cash transaction from the date of instigation of electronic toll collection.

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