ISLAMABAD: In a move aimed at easing financial burdens on the public, the government has rescinded a planned increase in toll taxes on national highways. The reversal comes under the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following a high-level meeting of the National Highway Authority in Islamabad, chaired by Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan.

According to Radio Pakistan, the decision to halt the 25 percent quarterly toll tax increase was formalized by the Minister, who announced a freeze on all toll adjustments for the current fiscal year. This action is part of a broader strategy to provide economic relief and is expected to benefit commuters across the country.

During the meeting, Minister Khan also outlined the government’s strategic infrastructure goals, focusing on the Karachi Port-Hyderabad M-10 Motorway. He described the motorway as an “economic lifeline” for Pakistan, emphasizing its design as an eight-lane project critical for enhancing port connectivity and alleviating urban traffic congestion. The M-10 project will feature modern rest areas and shopping facilities at ten-kilometer intervals, aimed at modernizing travel and boosting local commerce.

Khan underscored the necessity of transparent resource allocation to complete the M-10 project within a two-year timeframe, highlighting the government’s commitment to infrastructure development as a catalyst for economic growth.