June 18, 2005	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 10, 1426

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GUJAR KHAN, June 17: The Ministry of Communications is considering a proposal to exempt the members of parliament from paying toll at the National Highway Authority (NHA)’s toll plazas, sources in the ministry told Dawn.

According to the sources, the members of parliament including senators, MNAs and MPAs are likely to get exemption from paying toll at the plazas where every vehicle has to pay a specific amount, the minimum being Rs10 for the cars. The sources said that the NHA started collecting toll in 1999 to meet the expenses incurred on the maintenance of highways.

The authority is generating about Rs3 billion annually out of toll collection, while it needs Rs7 billion for the maintenance of highways, the source said.

Earlier, official vehicles were exempted from paying the toll but a couple of months back this exemption was withdrawn. However, the armed forces and the National Highway and Motorway Police continued to enjoy the facility.

The office of Tahir Sharif, director roads, Ministry of Communication, reluctantly confirmed that a proposal to exempt the MPs from paying toll ‘in certain areas including the New Murree Expressway’ was under their consideration.

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