Goods transporters have announced a 15 per cent increase in freight charges and warned of a nationwide wheel-jam strike if the government fails to withdraw recently imposed taxes.
Issuing an ultimatum to the government, transporters demanded the immediate withdrawal of toll tax and withholding tax, warning that transport operations across the country would be suspended if their demands were not met.
Goods Transport Alliance President Malik Shehzad Awan said the government has failed to provide relief to the transport sector, adding that rising operational costs have made it increasingly difficult for transporters to continue running their vehicles.
He warned that the alliance would launch a countrywide strike if the government’s policies remained unchanged.
Awan further said the transport industry has been severely affected by current government policies and urged authorities to take immediate steps to protect the country’s supply chain. He also claimed that commitments made by the government in December have yet to be fulfilled.
NHA raises toll rates on national highways, M-3, M-4, M-5 motorways: check new rates
The National Highway Authority (NHA) has increased toll charges on national highways and several major motorways across Pakistan. The new rates came into effect today, Friday, July 10.
Under the revised toll charges, cars will now pay Rs100 on national highways. Wagons will pay Rs200 while buses will pay Rs300 at toll plazas. And these new toll rates also apply to the M-3, M-4, and M-5 motorways.
On the M-3 Motorway from Lahore to Abdul Hakeem, the toll for cars, jeeps, and taxis has been set at Rs1,000.
Wagons will now pay Rs1,500. The toll for minibuses and coasters is Rs2,200, and buses will pay Rs3,150.
On the M-4 Motorway between Pindi Bhattian and Multan, cars, jeeps, and taxis will pay Rs1,350. The toll for wagons is Rs1,950. Minibuses and coasters will pay Rs2,900 and buses will pay Rs4,050.
For the M-5 Motorway from Multan to Sukkur, the toll has been fixed at Rs1,500 for cars, jeeps, and taxis. Wagons will pay Rs2,200. The charge for minibuses and coasters is Rs3,250, and buses will pay Rs4,600.
The latest increase comes a few days after the NHA revised toll charges for the M-2 Islamabad to Lahore Motorway under its concession agreement.
According to the NHA, the money collected through toll taxes is used for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the country’s motorway and national highway network.
What are Lahore-Islamabad M-2 Motorway toll charges
Prior to this, NHA raised toll charges on the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway (M-2) by 7 per cent. The new rates came into effect on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
According to an NHA notification, the revised toll rates will remain in place until April 23, 2027. The increase was part of an agreement that was signed on April 23, 2014, between the NHA and Motorway Operations and Rehabilitation Engineering (Private) Limited. It is a company that is owned by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).