The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended the implementation of a notification imposing an additional 50 percent toll on motorists using non-M-Tag vehicles or M-Tags with a low balance.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the court restrained the National Highway Authority (NHA) from collecting the additional toll tax from citizens until the next hearing of the case.
IHC's Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the interim stay order and also served notices on the NHA and other respondents, seeking their replies. Advocate Muhammad Jalal Haider represented the petitioner before the court.
The development comes three weeks after the M-Tag system was made mandatory for entry onto motorways from June 15, 2026. Motorists using older M-Tags had been allowed to replace them by June 30, 2026.
Earlier in April 2026, the Punjab Highway Department decided to digitise all manual toll plazas across the province.
The decision was taken to eliminate overcharging and corruption and bring transparency in toll collection. A meeting chaired by Provincial Minister for Works and Communications Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath reviewed the digitisation of toll plazas.
The provincial minister said 41 toll plazas of the Highway Department will be digitised. The minister reprimanded field formation officers for complaints of overcharging at toll plazas.
He directed the initiation of a strict crackdown against those who overcharge and registered cases against those involved.
Bharath said 41 toll plazas of the Highway Department will be provided with the M-tag facility, and transparency will be brought to vehicles through M-tag. The provincial minister said the infrastructure of toll plazas is also being upgraded.
The case will now proceed after the respondents submit their replies, while the suspension of the additional toll charges will remain in effect until further orders from the court.
Reporter: Ehtisham Kiani