While passenger cars are feeling the pinch, the most drastic increases in the new NHA toll notification are reserved for heavy commercial vehicles. The toll for articulated trucks has now crossed the Rs 7,000 threshold on several long-haul routes, sparking fears of a fresh wave of inflation.
The hike affects the primary arteries of Pakistan’s trade, including the M-5 (Multan-Sukkur) and M-4 (Pindi Bhattian-Multan). Transport unions have voiced immediate concerns, suggesting that the increased overheads will be passed directly to the consumers. “When it costs an extra several thousand rupees just to move one truck from the port to the north, the price of flour, sugar, and oil will inevitably rise,” said a representative of the Goods Transport Association.
The notification reveals that heavy vehicles on the M-14 (Hakla-D.I. Khan) and M-3 (Lahore-Abdul Hakeem) will also see double-digit percentage increases. Economic analysts warn that this move could act as a “cost-push” inflationary factor, complicating the government’s efforts to stabilise the economy.
NHA Toll Tax Revision Table
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