PESHAWAR: The National Highway Authority (NHA) announced the historic hike in toll taxes in the country. The new rates will be applicable with effect from April 5, 2026. The hike in the toll tax will undoubtedly make the journey through the motorways and national highways costlier.
The motorway M-1, which connects Islamabad with Peshawar, will witness a steep rise in the toll tax rates. According to the new rates, the tax will be Rs. 700 for cars. The tax rate will be Rs. 1,050 for vans, Rs. 1,450 for mini-buses, Rs. 2,050 for buses, Rs. 2,650 for 2/3 axle trucks, and Rs. 3,300 for articulated trucks.
In addition to the motorway tax, the tax rate will be higher at the Kohat Tunnel compared with the tax rates at the national highways. The tax rate will be Rs. 250 for cars, Rs. 600 for vans, Rs. 750 for buses or 2/3 axle trucks, and Rs. 1,100 for articulated trucks. The tax hike at the Kohat Tunnel will undoubtedly create more problems for the users of the tunnel. The tunnel is one of the busiest routes in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
According to the new toll tax, the amount will be up to 100 rupees for cars and up to 700 rupees for heavy vehicles like trucks. However, at some specific points, the amount of toll tax will be much higher. For instance, the amount of toll tax for the Kohat tunnel will be up to 250 rupees for cars, while the maximum toll tax will be up to 1,100 rupees for heavy vehicles. Another example is the toll tax hike on the E-75 Expressway.
The highest toll tax hike has been implemented on the motorways. For instance, the M-5 motorway will charge up to 1,500 rupees for a car and up to 4,550 rupees for a bus, thus making it the highest hike in toll tax. Similarly, there has also been a hike in the toll tax for other motorways like M-4, M-3, and M-1.
The steep hike in the toll tax will surely have a significant impact on the cost of traveling on major highways and motorways, which will not just cause frustration but will also have a negative impact on the economy.
