The Pakistani government has launched a new initiative to reduce traffic congestion at toll plazas by offering discounts to drivers using the M-Tag electronic payment system. Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan announced the measure during a recent Senate committee meeting.
Khan addressed ongoing challenges in toll collection, noting the uneven distribution of toll plazas across the country. He pointed out that Balochistan currently lacks any toll plazas, while Gilgit-Baltistan has only one despite its extensive road network.
Despite these challenges, the government has ambitious plans to increase toll tax revenue. Khan projected that annual collections could exceed Rs. 100 billion in the near future.
The Senate committee also revealed key statistics about Pakistan’s vehicle population:
- Total vehicles: 38 million
- Motorcycles: 70% of all vehicles
- Large vehicles: 2.7 million (7% of total)
- Older models: 70% of large vehicles
These figures are likely to inform the government’s strategy for traffic management and potential revenue generation for road maintenance and upgrades.
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The M-Tag discount program aims to incentivize drivers to adopt electronic payments, potentially leading to smoother traffic flow and more efficient toll collection. As the initiative rolls out, drivers across Pakistan may see changes in their toll payment experiences and possibly their transportation costs.
