Karachi: The Sindh Cabinet has approved the imposition of a toll tax on heavy commercial vehicles using the Mehran Highway, with the move expected to generate more than Rs2 billion in annual revenue.
The decision was taken during a provincial cabinet meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, where members approved the implementation of a toll collection system on the 135-kilometre-long Mehran Highway.
The cabinet was informed that the toll tax would apply exclusively to heavy and commercial vehicles, while private vehicles would not be subject to the new charges.
Officials briefing the cabinet said that the project to convert the Mehran Highway into a dual carriageway is currently underway at an estimated cost of Rs41 billion. Under the proposed toll collection system, the government expects to generate gross annual revenue of approximately Rs2.14 billion. After deducting operational expenses, the project is projected to yield a net annual income of around Rs1.48 billion.
The cabinet also approved toll rates for different categories of vehicles, with charges to be determined according to vehicle type and size.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the Sindh government was introducing a self-sustaining financial mechanism to ensure the long-term maintenance and upkeep of the province’s road infrastructure. He noted that the toll revenue would help finance highway maintenance and improve transportation facilities without placing additional pressure on the provincial budget.
In a separate decision, the Sindh Cabinet approved the restoration of the traditional name of the Works and Services Department. The department, which had previously been renamed, will once again be known as the Communication and Works Department, restoring its former official designation.
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