Islamabad, July 2, 2025: Authorities have decided to allow the National Highway Authority (NHA) to impose toll tax on visitors and commuters travelling between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan via Kaghan Valley.
The decision was made during a session led by Deputy Commissioner Khalid Iqbal at the New Circuit House in Balakot. The meeting included MPA Munir Hussain Lughmani, ex-minister Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah, regional officials, hotel operators, and delegates from various political and tourism-related circles.
DC Iqbal specified that while travelers will be obligated to pay toll tax, inhabitants of the Mansehra district will not be charged. He further stated that the establishment of the toll plaza has been officially approved by the federal government, which has also allocated Rs. 4 billion for regional infrastructure enhancement.
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District Police Officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur appealed to all groups to uphold peace and order during the rollout.
However, hoteliers raised concerns regarding the new toll initiative’s possible impacts on tourism. Seth Matiullah, head of the Hoteliers Association Naran, cautioned that it could hinder traffic flow and place added strain on an already overburdened industry.
Only a week ago, local demonstrators dismantled a toll booth near Naran, discarding its parts into the Kunhar River as a form of protest against the toll plan.
