NA Committee Demands Decrease in Toll Plazas on Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway

A parliamentary panel has called for a significant reduction in toll plazas on the Karachi-Hyderabad M-9 Motorway, recommending that booths be set up every 80 to 100 kilometers instead of the current policy of every 35 km. The proposal was made during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications, chaired by Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani, amid growing public frustration over frequent toll charges along the key highway. Officials from the National Highway Authority (NHA) briefed the committee, stating that toll plaza placement is based on traffic flow and population density.  They acknowledged that some districts lack toll facilities altogether. A new policy under discussion proposes toll booths every 50 km. However, the committee members rejected both the existing and proposed plans. They argued that placing two toll plazas within a few kilometers is excessive and unfair to motorists.  A recommendation was made to revise the spacing to every 80–100 km for fairer and more uniform distribution. Chairman Jakhrani directed that each clause of the toll plaza bill be reviewed individually to allow for possible amendments. MNA Waseem Hussain strongly criticized the current layout, calling it an injustice to the people of Karachi and Hyderabad.  He said the explanation from the NHA chairman was unsatisfactory, and highlighted growing public anger over repeated toll deductions during short commutes. “I am raising the voice of the people of Hyderabad,” he said. “This setup makes no sense.” The committee was informed that the Sukkur–Hyderabad stretch has around 11 to 12 toll plazas, while Rahim Yar Khan has three, and Punjab has eight. NHA officials clarified that toll booth distribution is not based on district boundaries. The Communications Secretary told the committee he personally pays toll tax in his locality. The NHA Chairman also noted that despite pressure to remove a toll booth in his own constituency, he had instead opted to improve the facility. The committee resolved to compile a report with its recommendations and forward it to the Speaker of the National Assembly for further discussion.