Sindh’s Highway Paradox: High Toll Revenue, Poor Roads and Unequal Development
Ishak Soomro
Sindh’s highway network presents a troubling contradiction
in Pakistan’s infrastructure governance. Despite being home to nearly 2,500
kilometres of roads under the National Highway Authority (NHA), the province
continues to suffer from poorly maintained highways, outdated road structures,
and a glaring absence of motorway-standard development.
Sindh serves as a vital transit corridor for national
trade, freight movement and inter-provincial connectivity. Yet large sections
of its highway network remain single carriageways, damaged road surfaces and
poorly maintained stretches that fail to meet modern transport standards. For a
province that plays a central role in Pakistan’s economy, particularly through
Karachi’s ports and industrial zones, this neglect raises serious concerns.
What makes the situation more difficult to justify is the
scale of toll revenue collected from Sindh’s roads. Across the province, nearly
32 toll plazas operate on national and strategic highways. For commuters,
transporters and freight operators, this means frequent toll payments, in some
cases every 50 kilometres.
Road users are effectively paying premium charges for
infrastructure that often delivers substandard service. The issue is not toll
collection itself. Globally, tolls are recognised as a legitimate user-pay
mechanism to fund road maintenance, upgrades and operational efficiency. The
real concern is where this money is going.
Available estimates suggest Sindh contributes nearly Rs22
billion annually in toll revenue to the NHA. In contrast, reported expenditure
on maintenance and road improvement within the province is believed to average
only around Rs3 billion. Even after accounting for administrative and
operational costs, the gap between collection and reinvestment appears
strikingly disproportionate. This disparity raises a fundamental question: if
Sindh is generating billions in toll revenue, why do its highways continue to
deteriorate?
Motorists across Sindh routinely encounter potholes, broken
surfaces, uneven patches and inadequate maintenance. On many freight-heavy
routes, vehicles are forced to reduce speed significantly, often to 60
kilometres per hour or lower, increasing travel time, fuel costs and vehicle
wear and tear.
The condition of toll infrastructure itself also reflects
broader governance gaps. Several toll plazas in Sindh lack basic facilities
such as proper signage, lighting, organised waiting lanes and digital systems.
In comparison, highways in other provinces, particularly Punjab, have
increasingly moved towards e-tolling, automated monitoring and better commuter
services. This contrast is not merely technological. It reflects an uneven
pattern of governance priorities.
More concerning is the complete absence of a fully
developed motorway-standard corridor in Sindh. While other provinces have
benefited from high-speed road networks that improve logistics efficiency and
reduce travel times, Sindh remains dependent on older highway alignments with
limited capacity enhancement.
This has broader economic implications. Karachi is
Pakistan’s largest port city and industrial centre. Any inefficiency in Sindh’s
highway system directly impacts national supply chains, increases
transportation costs and reduces trade competitiveness. The issue, therefore,
is not provincial alone. It is national.
Federal authorities frequently highlight infrastructure
modernisation, national connectivity and economic corridor development.
However, the reality on the ground in Sindh tells a different story. The
persistent gap between toll collection and visible reinvestment has created
growing public frustration and a widening trust deficit. Citizens have a
legitimate right to ask how toll revenues are allocated, how maintenance
priorities are determined, and why provinces contributing substantial revenue
do not appear to receive proportionate infrastructure returns.
Transparency is urgently needed. A public audit of toll
revenue collection and allocation, along with clear disclosure of provincial
maintenance expenditures, would be an important first step toward restoring
public confidence. More importantly, highway investment policy must reflect principles
of geographic equity and national fairness.
The issue is not whether tolls should exist. The issue is
whether citizens paying billions annually are receiving the quality, safety and
efficiency those payments are meant to guarantee.
Until this imbalance is addressed, Sindh’s highways will
remain more than just damaged roads. They will continue to symbolise a deeper
governance challenge, one rooted in questions of accountability, fairness and
equitable development across Pakistan.
Professional Profile: Ishak Soomro
Ishak Soomro is a highly experienced professional specializing as a Journalist, Research Associate, and Columnist with a distinguished career spanning 15 years
He possesses extensive expertise in multilingual communication and analysis, having written and contributed across three major languages: Sindhi, Urdu, and English
ishaksoomro@yahoo.com
