The toll tax on Lahore-Islamabad (M2) motorway has been increased by 10% under a 20-year agreement between the National Highway Authority (NHA) and MS/More, a subsidiary of the Frontier Works Organization (FWO). The NHA signed the deal in 2014 to execute “overlay 86 modernization of Lahore-Islamabad Motorway (M2)” on a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) Basis.
According to the Concessions Agreement, the following annual toll increase is applicable during this phase:
- A 10 yearly toll % increase will be applied from the 2nd operational year till 2026
- A 7% annual toll increase will be applicable from 2026 to 2034.
New Toll Tax Rates on Lahore-Islamabad Motorway
As per the notification, the new toll tax rates on Lahore-Islamabad Motorway are:
As mentioned earlier, the toll tax rate on Lahore-Islamabad Motorway is increased under an agreement between FWO and NHA, and the federal government has no direct role in it. However, this seems unfair to the already inflation-hit masses of Pakistan, especially concerning M2, the most traveled motorway in Pakistan.
With record-high fuel prices, i.e., petrol at Rs. 290.45/liter and diesel at Rs. 293.40/liter, this fresh hike will surely affect the common citizens, especially those who regularly travel on this road. But again, even the federal government cannot do anything about it.
M2 in News Due to Accident
The M2 motorway was in the news recently due to a bus accident in Salt Range. After the accident, which took 13 lives, the motorway police decided to take strict action against the public transport. The motorway police started convoy escorts for passenger buses, a strategy that aims to reduce road and highway mishaps significantly.
Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Yusuf Malik of the Motorway North Zone devised a plan to issue “time cards” to buses at designated safe spots while employing a vigilant system of speed cameras and patrol cars to ensure compliance. This collective approach, he believed, would help safeguard the lives of passengers and minimize accidents, particularly in the accident-prone Kallar Kahar region.
The Islamabad toll plaza serves as a critical checkpoint to further enhance road safety. Here, the police’s public service vehicle (PSV) information management center meticulously examines each public and goods transport vehicle, scrutinizing vital documents such as vehicle fitness certificates, route permits, and driver’s licenses. Overloading, poor tire safety, lack of first aid equipment, malfunctioning electronic devices, and drivers without valid licenses are taken extremely seriously and are subject to severe penalties.
