MANSEHRA: Politicians, traders and transporters have announced to move the Peshawar High Court seeking removal of a toll plaza on the Karakoram Highway here.

“The National Highway Authority had started building the toll tax plaza in Khatain-Da-Galla area in 2019, but when the civil society, political parties, transporters and traders raised objection over it, the authority submitted a surety bond with the Abbottabad Circuit Bench of the PHC promising to construct overhead bridges, underpasses and repair the KKH within six months to address the traffic congestion caused by the toll plaza in the city and its suburbs,” Hafiz Ijaz, a former president of traders’ body, told reporters on Sunday.

However, he regretted that over a year had passed since the NHA had had made the commitment before the court, but it had failed to execute the promised projects.

Former district council member Malik Naveed, former tehsil councillor Mian Abrar, PML-N leader Maulana Inyatur Rehman, former president of trader’s body Mohammad Shoaib and former nazim Malik Waheed also addressed the press conference.

“We will approach the high court’s circuit bench seeking removal of the toll plaza, which is causing problems for the people of Mansehra and Abbottabad who frequently travel between the two cities,” said Mr Ijaz.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2021