The Ministry of Communications announced on Friday the suspension of a planned quarterly increase in toll plaza fees, following directives from the prime minister. This decision was made in light of the economic challenges faced by citizens, who are already burdened by rising fuel prices.
Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan instructed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to withdraw the previously issued notification regarding the toll hike. A new notification was subsequently issued to officially suspend the planned increase.
Minister Khan emphasized that in the current economic climate, imposing additional financial burdens on the public is not feasible. He assured that the government is committed to alleviating public hardship, acting on the prime minister’s guidance.
The toll increase had been scheduled to take effect from April 5, with the NHA also directed to cancel an earlier notification issued on April 1. The revised toll structure had proposed higher charges for various vehicle categories, including cars, vans, buses, and trucks, on key motorways such as the M1, M3, M4, and M5.
Under the suspended plan, toll fees for cars on major routes would have seen significant hikes—for instance, Rs1,000 on the Lahore–Abdul Hakeem motorway and Rs1,500 on the Multan–Sukkur motorway. Other routes, including the Islamabad–Peshawar M1 motorway, were set to charge Rs700 for cars, with increased rates also planned for buses and trucks.
The NHA confirmed that no toll fee increases will be implemented during the 2025–26 fiscal year following this suspension. Minister Khan reiterated that the decision aims to ease the financial strain on citizens already affected by escalating petrol and diesel prices.
He acknowledged the difficulties faced by the public but expressed confidence that the nation can overcome these challenges through collective effort.
