Residents of Mansehra staged a protest on Tuesday, calling for the immediate demolition of a toll plaza they labeled illegal on the Karakoram Highway in the Khatain da Galla area.
The demonstration, led by local traders, saw participants gathering roadblocks and voicing slogans demanding the plaza’s removal. They alleged the government had increased toll fees from Rs70 to Rs100 instead of dismantling the structure.
“Daily travelers, including students, traders, and medical patients commuting between Mansehra and Abbottabad districts, face significant financial hardship due to this toll,” a protester stated.
Demonstrators urged the federal government to either eliminate or relocate the toll plaza, emphasizing that residents should not be charged for travel within their own district. They warned of expanding their protest efforts if demands remain unaddressed.
In a separate operation, police confiscated a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition during a search mission in Oghi tehsil’s mountainous regions, according to SHO Oghi Tasawar Shah.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government inaugurated a project to widen and pave the Balakot-Garhi Habibullah Road. MPA Munir Hussain Lughmani announced that World Bank funding would support a Rs1.5 billion initiative to improve connectivity between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted additional investments in multi-billion-rupee infrastructure projects aimed at developing tourism in the Manoor, Kaghan, and Ghanool valleys, which will boost local hospitality and create jobs for residents.
The MPA credited Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for prioritizing the development of previously overlooked regions like Balakot. The road project and tourism initiatives reflect the government’s broader strategy to enhance infrastructure and economic opportunities in the area.
Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2026