• By rehbar
• Transport

Toll rates on Pakistan’s motorway network went up again this month, and if you last checked prices a few months ago, the numbers you’re carrying around in your head are already out of date. The National Highway Authority revised charges on six major motorways plus the national highway network on July 10, 2026, and the privately operated Lahore Islamabad Motorway got its own separate 7 percent bump five days earlier. That’s two different toll hikes inside the same week, on two different routes, run by two different authorities.

Note: Toll rates in Pakistan change often, sometimes more than once a year, and can be adjusted again with little notice. The figures below reflect official NHA and concession agreement notifications as of mid July 2026. Confirm current charges at your toll plaza or through NHA before a long trip, particularly if you’re budgeting for a commercial fleet.

This guide breaks down exactly what you’ll pay on every major route, from the M1 near Peshawar down to the M5 in Sindh, plus the Hazara Motorway that tourists use to reach Kaghan and Naran.

Who Sets Motorway Toll Tax in Pakistan?

The National Highway Authority collects and revises toll charges on most of the country’s motorways and national highways. It operates under the NHA Act of 1991, amended in 2024, and periodically adjusts rates to cover maintenance, resurfacing, and new construction across the network.

The M2, however, is a different animal. It’s run under a Build Operate Transfer concession signed in April 2014 with Motorway Operations and Rehabilitation Engineering, a subsidiary of the Frontier Works Organisation. That agreement locks in an annual toll increase from the thirteenth year of the concession onward, which is why the Lahore-Islamabad route gets its own price hike on its own schedule, separate from the rest of the network.

The M2 Motorway Lahore to Islamabad

The M2 motorway Lahore to Islamabad remains the busiest and most iconic highway in the country. Spanning 367 kilometers, it connects the federal capital with the heart of Punjab. The NHA issued a specific tariff tier for this route that stays in place from July 05, 2026, until April 23, 2027.

Read: Motorway Speed Limits and Traffic Rules

M2 LAHORE–ISLAMABAD TOLL TAX RATES w.e.f 05-07-2026

  The M2 is Pakistan’s busiest intercity corridor, and it’s priced differently from every other motorway because of that BOT concession agreement. As of July 5, 2026, a car pays Rs 1,430 for the full run between Lahore and Islamabad, worked out at Rs 3.98 per kilometre. That’s up from Rs 1,330 the year before, a 7 percent jump that’s now baked into the concession terms every year going forward.

Here’s the full M2 breakdown:

These rates hold until April 23, 2027, when the next scheduled increase under the concession agreement kicks in. If you’re only doing part of the route, say Lahore to Rawalpindi or Islamabad to Chakwal, the toll plaza staff will calculate a prorated charge based on the distance covered, using the per kilometre figures above.

You must ensure your account balance covers these numbers. Going through without a registered tag or dragging an empty balance triggers a penalty surcharge that adds 50 percent to the standard rate.

Other routes across the country operate under flat or distance-based tariffs that saw recent adjustments.

Read: How to transfer car ownership

Toll Tax List on National Highways 

Toll Tax List on Kohat Tunnel (N-55) 

Toll Tax List on IMDCW (E-75) 

Read: How to pay traffic challan online

Toll Tax List on Islamabad-Peshawar (M-1) 

Toll Tax List on Lahore-Abdul Hakeem (M-3) 

Toll Tax List on Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad-Multan(M-4) 

Toll Tax List on Multan-Sukkur (M-5) 

The M5 Multan to Sukkur route is the longest operational stretch at 392 kilometers, which explains why its base rate sits higher than the shorter M1 route.

Read: How to apply for driving licence

Toll Tax List on D.I Khan – Hakla (M-14) 

Toll Tax List on Hassanabdal-Havelian-Manshera Hazara Expressway (E-35) 

If you’re heading toward Abbottabad, Mansehra, or continuing to the Kaghan Valley and the Karakoram Highway, you’ll be on the E35 Hassanabdal Havelian Mansehra Expressway, better known as the Hazara Motorway. It’s widely considered one of the most scenic drives in the country, climbing through pine covered hills as the temperature drops. 

Understanding the M-Tag Mandate and Penalties

The days of handing cash to a booth operator are disappearing. The NHA wants a completely digital collection ecosystem to reduce congestion at entrance and exit plazas.

Why You Cannot Skip the M-Tag

Vehicles lack permission to access main lanes without a valid sticker. Registration booths sit just before the toll plazas at almost every entry point. Getting a sticker requires you to present your CNIC and vehicle registration documents along with a nominal setup fee of roughly Rs 200.

The Low Balance and Missing Tag Fine

Slowing down a lane because of an empty account creates major traffic backups. The NHA penalizes drivers who do not maintain their balance by slapping a 50 percent surcharge onto the journey cost. For instance, an M2 trip that should cost Rs 1,330 quickly jumps to nearly Rs 2,000 if your account is empty when the overhead cameras scan your windshield.

Read: How to check E-challan online

How to Manage Your Toll Balance Remotely

You can check your current balance or top up your account through several digital options before starting your vehicle.

• One Network App: Download the official One Network app on your phone, enter your CNIC or vehicle chassis number, and view your remaining balance instantly.
• SMS Check: Send a text message containing “MTAG [space] your ID number” to 9999 to get a quick balance notification on your phone.
• Digital Wallets: Top up your account using EasyPaisa, JazzCash, or online banking applications by selecting the M-Tag payment option and typing in your specific account number.

Keeping an extra Rs 2,000 in your digital wallet ensures you avoid the frustration of penalty lanes and manual side-lane detours during peak holiday traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I travel on the motorway if my M-Tag balance is zero?
You can technically enter, but the scanners record your vehicle plates and apply a low-balance surcharge penalty to your account, which you must clear upon exiting or during your next recharge.

How much does a new M-Tag registration cost?
The base cost for registration is Rs 200, but you must load an initial balance onto the card to activate it for travel.

Do toll rates change during public holidays?
Standard rates stay the same during Eid or national holidays, but booth congestion increases significantly, making a pre-funded automated account necessary to save time.

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