MANSEHRA: People from different walks of life, including traders, transporters, local government representatives and members of civil society, have warned the federal government to remove the ‘illegal’ toll plaza on the Karakoram Highway in the Khatain Da Galla area here within a month or they would forcibly raze it.

“Transporters pay double tax within a distance of hardly three to four kilometres just after hitting the Karakoram Highway from the Hazara Expressway in Qalandarabad area, which is unjust and should be waived off,” Mansehra tehsil chairman Sheikh Mohammad Shafi told a meeting held at the press club here on Monday.

“The National Highway Authority had assured the Abbottabad Circuit Bench of the Peshawar High Court some three years ago that the toll plaza would be relocated within a year, but it did not honour its commitment, putting an extra financial burden on the people of Mansehra and Abbottabad districts and the rest of Hazara division,” president of the transporters’ body in Hazara Jan Alam said.

He said NHA had promised to widen the KKH through the Mansehra city, but nothing materialised.

On the occasion, president of the traders’ central body Haji Waseem said they would meet the deputy commissioner to ensure the removal or relocation of the toll tax plaza within a month.

PRICES REVIEWED: The district administration has revised upwards the prices of almost all essential items ahead of Ramazan and asked traders to abide by the official price list.

The district price review committee reviewed the prices of beef, mutton, fish, pakora and samosas, and fixed their fresh rates for Ramazan.

According to a press release issued by the district administration, the rate of beef has been fixed at Rs900 per kg, mutton at Rs1,800 per kg, and chapli kebab at Rs800 per 800 grams (prepared/cooked).

The price review committee also fixed the rates of fish varieties. The rate of all varieties of fried fish has been fixed at Rs700 per kg and that of grilled at Rs750 per kg.

The prices of all sorts of rice, pulses and other groceries have also been revised upwards according to the formula set by the district administration, compared with the wholesale markets in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026