Islamabad (Agencies): Federal Minister for Privatization, Board of Investment, and Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, announced that residents of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) will be exempted from the National Highway Authority’s (NHA) proposed toll tax. The decision was made during separate meetings held with Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Gulbar Khan.
During the meetings, Aleem Khan discussed the expansion of the NHA in Gilgit-Baltistan and its crucial role in the region’s development. He emphasized that the progress of Gilgit-Baltistan is vital for Pakistan’s overall prosperity and reaffirmed NHA’s commitment to improving the road network.
Acknowledging the region’s growing tourism sector, Aleem Khan highlighted that thousands of tourists visit Gilgit-Baltistan every year, significantly contributing to its economy. To further improve infrastructure, he proposed the introduction of a toll tax for tourists, with the collected funds dedicated to enhancing NHA’s road infrastructure in the region. However, he assured that local residents would be exempted from this tax.
Chief Minister Gulbar Khan appreciated the Federal Minister’s dedication to the development of Gilgit-Baltistan and expressed the provincial government’s commitment to working closely with NHA for the region’s progress.