Relief for Public: Govt freezes toll hike, PM orders no increase in rail fares

ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday withdrew a planned increase in toll taxes, freezing all adjustments for the current fiscal year, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed Pakistan Railways not to raise fares for any class.

The decision on toll taxes was taken during a high-level review meeting of the National Highway Authority, chaired by Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, aimed at providing immediate relief to the public.

Acting on the prime minister’s directives, the minister rescinded the 25 per cent quarterly increase in toll taxes and ordered a complete freeze for the fiscal year 2025-26. The NHA was also instructed to withdraw its earlier notification issued on April 1, which had proposed revised toll rates from April 5.

Previously, the authority had announced new toll rates, including Rs70 for cars, Rs150 for vans, Rs250 for buses, Rs300 for two- and three-axle trucks, and Rs550 for larger vehicles.

During the meeting, the minister also outlined the government’s long-term infrastructure vision, describing the Karachi Port-Hyderabad M-10 Motorway as a key “economic lifeline” for the country. The planned eight-lane project aims to improve port connectivity and ease urban traffic congestion, with modern rest areas and commercial facilities proposed at regular intervals.

He directed the NHA to engage international consultants and engineers to ensure high standards in feasibility and execution, while dismissing concerns about the authority’s financial stability as “misleading”.

The meeting was informed that the OPEC Fund for International Development had approved a $230 million loan for a section of the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway, reflecting continued international support for Pakistan’s infrastructure development.

Meanwhile, the prime minister also directed that rail fares remain unchanged across all classes, including economy and air-conditioned categories, with freight charges also held steady to support the business community.

According to official estimates, the government will bear an additional burden of Rs6 billion until June 30 to maintain the current fare structure, providing further relief to commuters and businesses.