A major dispute has erupted between Sindh and Punjab provinces over increased toll taxes on national highways, now being designated as motorways. Senator Muhammad Aslam Abro of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has expressed serious concerns over the renaming of national highways as motorways, leading to significantly higher toll charges.

The controversy has escalated, with the Sindh Chief Minister, National Assembly members, and PPP senators voicing strong objections. Senator Abro specifically criticized the toll tax increases, deeming them unfair to Sindh. He announced that residents of Jacobabad will soon stage a protest to register their grievances.

Senator Abro highlighted the substantial revenue generated from motorway toll taxes, alleging billions of rupees are being collected. He lamented that Sindh, a significant contributor to national taxes, lacks basic infrastructure, contrasting it with the extensive motorway network in Punjab. He accused the government of favoring Punjab at the expense of Sindh and Balochistan.

The senator further alleged that billions of rupees are being embezzled under the guise of motorway toll taxes. He revealed a conversation with Punjab’s Minister for Communication and Works, where the minister suggested incorporating the motorways into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

Senator Abro also criticized the poor condition of roads in Sindh, citing the dilapidated state of highways connecting Kashmore, Sehwan, and Hyderabad as examples. He emphasized the disparity in infrastructure development between the two provinces.