Decision to impose 50% additional toll on non M-TAG, low-balance vehicles challenged

ISLAMABAD – A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court challenging the National Highway Authority’s (NHA) decision to impose a 50 percent additional toll on vehicles without an M-Tag and those with insufficient M-Tag balance. Advocate Muhammad Jalal Haider filed the petition against the NHA, naming the Ministry of Communications and other relevant authorities as respondents. According to the petition, the NHA issued a notification on May 30, 2025, introducing a 50 percent additional toll charge as a penalty for non-M-Tag vehicles and M-Tag users with low account balances. The petitioner argues that the measure is not supported by law. The petition states that under Section 10 of the NHA Act, the authority is empowered to collect toll tax only. It contends that the law does not authorize penalties for vehicles without an M-Tag or additional charges on motorists whose M-Tag balance is insufficient. The petitioner further argues that the notification violates Articles 4, 18, 24 and 25 of the Constitution and has asked the court to declare the May 30, 2025 notification unconstitutional and void. The petition also requests the court to direct the NHA to refund the additional amounts collected under the notification and to provide complete details of the procedure governing M-Tag balances and their use. The petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court by Yahya Farid Khawaja through Advocate Muhammad Jalal Haider.