Peshawar High Court took notice of the repeated of hike in Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway toll tax and sought policy clarification from the authorities concerned.
The hearing on the petitions filed against the increase in toll tax on the motorway continued by Justice Naeem Anwar and Justice Farah Jamshed, during which the court sought clarification of the NHA’s toll tax policy. The toll tax policy introduced in 2010 after the establishment of the motorway, has fixed separate tax rates for M1, M2, and M3. Lawyer petitioner Asif Ali Shah told the court that according to the policy, the tax should be increased after every three years, but in the past years, it was increased three times in a year.
Asif Ali Shah further said that the toll plazas from Rashkai to Charsadda and then to Peshawar are less than 35 kilometres away, so according to the formula, no tax should be levied on them, but NHA is charging separate charges for M-tag and non-M-tag. The lawyer requested NHA to explain the tax formula and present the new policy before the court.
The NHA lawyer replied that the vehicles that have been transferred to the M-Tag regime under the M-Tag regime are being charged tax to reduce congestion and reduce security risks. He said that no change has been made in the formula and the tax increase was made in accordance with the same policy.
The NHA lawyer further said that the purpose of charging additional charges from non-M-Tag vehicles is to transfer them to the M-Tag, and this move does not affect the fundamental rights of transportation. The court asked the petitioner to explain the tax formula up to Charsadda and Mardan so that the transparency of the policy is revealed. The lawyer said that we are being taxed at the rate of Rs 3.42 per kilometer, and transparency is needed in this formula.
According to experts, this case is an important development regarding transparency in motorway toll tax and implementation of the M-Tag system, the decision of which may have an impact on the citizens of the country and the transport system. Justice Naeem Anwar and Justice Farah Jamshed heard the contempt of court petition filed against the National Highways Chairman and the Director of Revenue.
The court summoned the NHA Chairman and the Director of Revenue for the next hearing. The court ordered to record the testimonies at the next hearing. The court adjourned the further hearing till January 27.
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