The government has scrapped the planned increase in toll rates on Pakistan’s motorways and highways, providing immediate relief to commuters and transporters.

The National Highway Authority (NHA) announced on April 3 that its earlier notification dated April 1, which proposed a 25 percent quarterly rise in tolls, has been withdrawn following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said the decision was made considering the country’s current economic challenges. He confirmed that no toll rate hikes will take place during the fiscal year 2025–26.

“The government’s priority is to ease the financial burden on the public,” the minister stated, adding that further measures will be introduced to address commuters’ concerns in line with the prime minister’s guidance.

The move has been welcomed by motorists and transport associations, who had expressed concerns about the impact of increased tolls on daily travel and logistics costs.