ISLAMABAD: The parking fees at Islamabad International Airport have been increased, leading to frustration among passengers and leading to heated exchanges with parking contractors on Wednesday.
According to the new tariff, the fee for the first three hours has been raised from Rs90 to Rs120. Beyond the initial three hours, passengers will now be charged Rs70 for every additional hour, up from the previous Rs50.
The sudden hike has drawn criticism from travellers, many of whom complained that the increased charges add to their existing financial burden amid rising inflation. Several passengers engaged in arguments with parking staff, accusing contractors of exploiting the public and demanding better facilities if higher rates are to be imposed.
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Airport authorities have yet to issue a formal statement on the decision. The fee hike comes at a time when air travel is already seen as costly for domestic passengers.
Toll tax on M2 motorway increases by 10 per cent
Earlier this week, the National Highway Authority (NHA) implemented revised toll rates on the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway (M2) effective Tuesday, under a 10 percent annual hike agreed in the 2014 concession contract with Motorway Operations and Rehabilitation Engineering, a subsidiary of the FWO.
Cars, Jeeps, and Taxis will now pay Rs1,330, Wagons Rs2,240, and Buses Rs3,130. Freight vehicles face steeper charges: Rs4,460 for 2-axle trucks, Rs5,800 for 3-axle trucks, and Rs7,460 for articulated trucks. The revised rates will remain in force until August 26, 2026.
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The hike is part of the Build-Operate-Transfer model, which mandates yearly increases from the second year onward. Earlier this year, NHA had already imposed multiple toll increases across major motorways, including M1, M3, M4, M5, M14, and E35. On the M1, car toll rose to Rs550, while M3 charges increased to Rs800, M4 to Rs1,050, M5 to Rs1,200, and M14 to Rs650, drawing criticism from commuters.