The Sindh Cabinet has approved the imposition of toll tax on heavy commercial vehicles using the 135-kilometre-long Mehran Highway.
It should be noted that the Mehran Highway (Highway 31) is a two-lane 135-kilometer-long road, connecting Nawabshah to Ranipur (Khairpur). It serves as a rural shortcut passing through towns like Daur, Bandhi, and Kot Lalu, though parts of it experience heavy regional traffic and ongoing dualization and rehabilitation efforts.
The decision was taken during a provincial cabinet meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, where the proposal to introduce toll charges on the highway was approved.
The cabinet was informed that the toll tax would apply only to heavy and commercial vehicles travelling on Mehran Highway.
During a briefing, officials said that the project to convert Mehran Highway into a dual carriageway is underway at an estimated cost of Rs41 billion.
The proposed toll system is expected to generate gross annual revenue of Rs2.14 billion, while net revenue after operational expenses is projected at Rs1.48 billion per year.
The Sindh Cabinet also approved the implementation of different toll rates based on vehicle categories.
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 of highways.
The cabinet also approved restoring the traditional name of the Works and Services Department. The department, which had been renamed earlier, will once again be called the Communication and Works Department.
