The Supreme Council of All Pakistan Transporters has denounced the recent toll tax increases on national highways and motorways, calling the hikes intolerable and unfair to transporters already burdened by high fuel and maintenance costs. In a meeting held at the truck stand, Chairman Captain (R) AsifMahmood, Senior Vice Chairman Malik Muhammad RiazAwan, General Secretary Hanif Khan Marwat, Vice Chairman Murad Khan Durrani, Dilawar Khan Niazi, IqbalShahzai, HameedShaheenUmrani, and AkhtarSaeed Khan voiced their frustration.
They highlighted that transporters are already struggling with the exorbitant prices of diesel, spare parts, tires, and lubricants. Toll tax for heavy vehicles on national highways has been raised from Rs 250 to Rs 350, a 40% increase. On M-5, the toll tax has jumped from Rs 3280 to Rs 4500, a rise of 37%. For 2/3 axle trucks on M-3, the toll has gone from Rs 1550 to Rs 2100, a 35% hike.
For buses, the toll on national highways has increased from Rs 120 to Rs 160, marking a 33% rise. The transporters urged Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the National Highways and Motorways Authority to immediately roll back the toll tax increases. They warned that the steep hikes would cripple the already struggling transportation sector, disrupting the supply of essential goods, raw materials, and medicines across the country.
Additionally, these increases are likely to lead to higher intercity bus fares, further burdening the public. Captain (R) AsifMahmood stated, “The government’s announcement of a 30% increase has, in reality, resulted in hikes of up to 40%, which is pure injustice.” The transporters’ council stressed that without a rollback, the transportation industry’s operations would come to a halt, causing widespread disruption in the supply chain.
