I VISIT Bhurban, Murree, at least four to five times a year. I have a small apartment a few metres away from a well-known hotel. I am exempted from paying toll tax at the footsteps of the hotel.

However, Rs200 toll tax is applicable to all vehicles of visitors and guests going to the hotel per visit. Every visitor who enters the hotel also pays Rs500 per person for entry vouchers, which are redeemable at restaurants inside the hotel. The guests are exempted because they pay the room rent. Hotel charges its customers all applicable government taxes on room and boarding.

Another reason for the road tax is the maintenance of the roads. But the road leading to Bhurban is in a pathetic condition, although the government boasts spreading a road network throughout Pakistan, especially in Punjab.

Apart from the above mentioned toll taxes, all vehicles going to Murree or Bhurban either through Old Murree Road or the newly-built expressway, pay Rs50 at the entry and exit.

What is the reason for charging Rs200 toll tax before the hotel where the customers already pay all government taxes on food and services when they make purchases or pay room rents? Isn’t it extortion?

Muzafar-ul-Haq

Lahore

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2016