A petition has been submitted in the Superior Court of Peshawar that defies the recent increase in tax toll taxes, arguing that the measure is illegal and imposes an unfair load for travelers.
The petition, presented by the lawyer Asif Ali Shah and others from Charsadda, appoints the Federal Government, the National Road Authority (NHA) and the Ministry of Communications as respondents.
The petitioners argue that the government’s decision to impose a 100% toll increase in vehicles without a M label is illegal.
The toll increase, notified on January 31, follows two previous increases in 2024, which raised the Charsadda-Peshawar toll from RS30 to RS40, and then at RS60.
The petition argues that the government should focus on facilitating citizens instead of imposing additional financial tension.
The Court has been urged to suspend the toll increase until a final decision is made.
Toll Tax for Tourists in GB Proposed
Previously, the Federal Privatization Minister, the Investment Board and Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, held separate meetings with CM of GB, Gulbar Khan and Azerbaijan ambassador to Pakistan, Khazar Farhadov.
Both meetings focused on economic development, investment opportunities and the improvement of infrastructure in Pakistan, said a press release. During his meeting with Prime Minister Gulbar Khan, Aleem Khan discussed the expansion of the NHA in GB and its crucial role in regional development.
To further improve the infrastructure, Aleem Khan proposed the introduction of a toll tax for tourists, with funds collected dedicated to improving the infrastructure of the NHA road in the region. However, he assured that local residents would be exempt from this tax.
