Traders protest against highway toll tax

BALAKOT:

The All-Traders Association Balakot, Anjuman-e-Tajran Balakot, Transport Association Balakot, Hotel Association Balakot, and the local elected body of representatives have joined hands against the establishment of a toll plaza by the National Highway Authority in Balakot.

A joint press conference has recently been held in Balakot against the alleged installation of the toll plaza.

Haji Noor Hussain of All-Traders Association, Anwar Khan Lala of Anjuman-e-Tajran, Ejaz Khan of the Hotel Association, Ajmal Khan of the Transport Association, Chairman Garlat Muhammad Maroof Awan, General Councilor City Balakot Tahir Khan, and others expressed their concerns to Balakot assistant commissioner and DSP Balakot.

The leaders of the concerned parties said, "Only one toll plaza is installed in the district, while they are trying to install another one. We will not allow it, and if someone attempts to do it, we will protest against it and seek a restraining order from the court."

They demanded that the "Central government look into the matter as the people of Balakot are already wrecked by ongoing inflation, the impact of the Coronavirus, and numerous earthquakes. In this way, inflicting further damage cannot be sustained any further. As a result, the current Central Government should immediately abolish this toll plaza."

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2022.