NHA Increases Toll Tax on Motorways and Highways 3rd Time in 7 Months

The National Highways Authority (NHA) has increased toll taxes significantly for the third time in the current year on highways and motorways, to be enforced from January 5, 2025, to achieve the revenue target. Toll hikes have also been implemented on several other 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. Under the revised rates, cars traveling on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M1) will see their toll rise from Rs. 460 to Rs. 500. Wagons will now be charged Rs. 750, up from Rs. 720, while buses face an increase from Rs. 1,300 to Rs. 1,450. For trucks, the toll tax will jump from Rs. 1,950 to Rs. 2,300. On national highways, the toll for cars will increase from Rs. 50 to Rs. 60, wagons will be charged Rs. 100, and buses will face a new rate of Rs. 200 against previous rates of Rs. 170. For 2 and 3-axle trucks, the tax will be Rs. 250, while articulated trucks will be charged Rs. 500 against Rs. 460. On the M-3 motorway from Lahore to Abdul Hakeem, the toll tax for cars has risen from Rs. 650 to Rs. 700. For the M-4 motorway from Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad and Multan, the toll tax has been raised from Rs. 850 to Rs. 950. The toll tax on the M-5 motorway from Sukkur to Multan has increased from Rs. 1,050 to Rs. 1,100. On the M-14 motorway from Dera Ismail Khan to Hakla, the toll tax is now Rs. 600. The NHA confirmed that the new toll tax rates will apply from January 5, 2025. It is important to note that this is the third toll tax hike by the NHA in the past seven months. Following the recent increase, the toll tax rates have more than doubled within this period. In addition, tolls have been raised at key locations such as the Kohat Tunnel (N55), Islamabad-Murree-Kohala Highway (N75), and Mianwali Toll Plaza (N135), with commuters facing higher charges across the board.