Toll tax hiked by 25% on M-9

Non-MTag cars to pay Rs460 now; buses hike fares too

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KOTRI:

Toll tax has been increased once again on the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway M-9, marking the second hike in seven months. This new toll rate applies to vehicles traveling in both directions and is applicable with immediate effect. The last increase occurred in July 2024, and now, seven months later, in February 2025, it has been increased by 25 per cent for vehicles without M-tags.

According to a notification issued by the National Highway Authority (NHA) Directorate of Revenue Finance Wing Islamabad, Aamir Ali, the increase aims to implement 100 per cent Mtag usage on all motorways nationwide. As a result, vehicles without M-tags will be required to pay an additional 25 per cent toll, effective from February 2025, with collections already underway.

Due to the recent increase in tax rates, the following changes are now in effect for various vehicle categories.

Vehicles in the F1 category, which include cars, jeeps, Land Cruisers, Pajero Jeeps, Suzuki vehicles, vans, pickups, and their equivalents, will now be taxed Rs460, up from Rs 360. Wagons in the F2 category will now pay Rs780, an increase from Rs560. Wagons, Coasters, Mazda vehicles, and minibuses with 13 to 24 seats (F3 category) will see their tax rise to Rs1,080 from Rs870.

All buses in category F (which have more than 24 seats) will now be taxed Rs1,540, up from Rs1,260. Two or three-axle trucks in category F will pay Rs2,080 instead of Rs1,660. For six-axle vehicles and trailers in category F, the new tax will be Rs2,640, increased from Rs2,120.

This increase specifically targets non-M-tag vehicles. Many vehicle owners have not installed MTags, resulting in them paying extra taxes, particularly since most of these vehicles are used as taxis.

The tax has been imposed on various interchanges between M-9 at Lonikot, Thana Bulla Khan, Nooriabad, Panjal Makan, Hubsari, Commander City TB, DHA and Edhi, DCK, Kadhor, Bahria Town, Damba Goth, with the 25 per cent increase now in effect. As a result, commercial vehicles operating between Karachi and Hyderabad, such as passenger cars, coaches, and vans, have also hiked their fares.

It is important to note that on March 11, 2015, former PM Nawaz Sharif laid the foundation for this project, which was built by the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) for Rs36 billion. However, many promised facilities remain absent despite collecting billions of rupees in taxes.

Essential link roads have not been constructed, and 80,000 trees have yet to be planted due to environmental concerns. No emergency response centres are available for accidents, and fire safety resources are inadequate-especially since travel between Karachi and Hyderabad takes approximately two to two and a half hours. Initially planned as an eight-lane motorway, the project continues to function as a six-lane road.