KARACHI, April 4: The movement of Edhi ambulances through highways without payment of toll tax has been restricted. A spokesman for Edhi Head Office said here on Monday that this public service, whereby patients and bodies were transported from one place to another and which was being provided without any burden on government exchequer, had been taxed at highways for the first time during the last 40 years.

He said that at present some 800 ambulances at over 300 Edhi Welfare centres in Pakistan were running from one place to another round-the-clock carrying poor patients and bodies on nominal charges.

He said that Edhi service charge only Rs30 from poor patients, but this would not be possible

to continue it at this rate after

an ambulance pays Rs20 as toll tax.

The spokesman further said that a letter has been sent to Chairman National Highway Authority requesting him that ambulances should be exempted from toll tax. —APP