09 November 2004	Tuesday	25 Ramazan 1425

ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP) wants withdrawal of the exemption given to uniformed personnel from payment of toll on highways and motorway, it has been learnt.

All official vehicles are exempted from payment of toll on highways and motorways but private vehicles used by civil servants have to pay tax. However, defence personnel even if travelling in private cars are exempt from the payment of toll tax by displaying only their service cards.

A resolution moved in the Senate by PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar says "this House recommends that all sections of commuters irrespective of class and status using private vehicles should be required to pay toll tax on motorways/highways throughout the country and exemption given to any be withdrawn immediately".

The issue was first raised in February this year during the question hour in the Senate while discussing the working of National Highways Authority. The then Communications Minister, Mr Ahmad Ali, responding to the questions stated that every one should pay toll tax.

He also promised that the government would consider the issue of exemptions given to the defence personnel.

Subsequently Senator Babar submitted another formal question asking the minister as to when the verbal assurance given on the floor of the House on February 18 would be implemented.

Meanwhile Ahmad Ali was replaced with another MQM member Babar Khan Ghori.

The new minister in his formal reply on May 5 on the floor of the Senate stated, "the matter regarding withdrawal of all kinds of concessions/exemptions from national highways is under consideration of the government".

The question was once again revived and the minister asked as to when the promise would be fulfilled.

The question was set at serial number 59 of the 'Question Hour' on October 28. However, no reply was given and it was written below the question "reply not received".

Meanwhile the PPP has asked yet another question to know what progress had been made and also moved a resolution demanding an end to the exemptions.

Both the question and resolution will be taken up during Senate session next month.

"Exemptions from payment of toll was discriminatory and bred resentment against the defence personnel and undermined public respect for them", said the mover of the resolution demanding its withdrawal.