The motorway toll tax to the Northern Areas from Islamabad, using the M-1 and Hazara Motorway to Mansehra, comes to roughly PKR 1,100 for a car each way in 2026. From Lahore, adding the M-2, it's closer to PKR 2,500 each way. The bigger change for 2026 is that M-Tag is now compulsory on every motorway; a car without one pays more, and from 30 June 2026 cash top-ups stopped working altogether.
Here's what each motorway charges, how M-Tag changes the bill, and what else to budget for beyond the tolls.
| Motorway, one way, car (2026) | Rough toll |
|---|---|
| M-1, Islamabad to Peshawar (partial use) | About PKR 700 for the full route |
| M-2, Lahore to Islamabad | About PKR 1,330 with M-Tag |
| Hazara Motorway (E-35), Burhan to Mansehra | About PKR 400 |
| Swat Motorway (M-16), Phase I | About PKR 270 |
| M-Tag registration | About PKR 200, one-off |
The route and which motorways you'll use
Most road trips to Hunza, Gilgit or Skardu from Islamabad join the M-1 briefly at Hasanabdal, then take the Hazara Motorway (E-35) north to Mansehra, where it joins the N-35, the Karakoram Highway, for the rest of the journey. From Lahore, the M-2 to Islamabad comes first. The Swat Motorway (M-16) is only relevant if your route or side trip goes through Swat rather than straight up the Karakoram Highway.
None of the tolled motorways reach anywhere near Hunza or Skardu themselves; the N-35 beyond Mansehra is a national highway rather than a limited-access motorway, and it does not charge the same kind of toll, though smaller highway toll plazas exist along some sections. Keep some cash for these even after you leave the motorway network.
What each motorway charges
M-1 (Islamabad–Peshawar): A car pays about PKR 700 for the full route, under rates the National Highway Authority revised from 10 July 2026. Most Northern Areas traffic only uses a short stretch of the M-1 to reach the Hazara Motorway interchange, so the toll charged is proportionally lower.
M-2 (Lahore–Islamabad): A car with an active M-Tag paid about PKR 1,330 under the rate published for the period from 26 August 2025, with a surcharge for drivers without a working tag. This is the most expensive single motorway on the way north and the one most worth having your M-Tag ready for.
Hazara Motorway (E-35): About PKR 400 one way for a car, under the July 2026 revision, up from a lower rate the year before. This is the stretch that actually carries you into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa towards Mansehra and the start of the Karakoram Highway proper.
Swat Motorway (M-16): Phase I costs a car about PKR 270, though Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's government proposed a 20 percent rise, to around PKR 324, in August 2026, pending cabinet approval. Check the current rate if your trip includes Swat.
These figures move often under Pakistan's revised toll-setting process, so treat them as a guide and confirm at the plaza or on the NHA's published notifications before you travel.
M-Tag: no longer optional
M-Tag, the prepaid electronic sticker read at dedicated lanes, became mandatory on all motorways from 15 June 2026. Two changes matter for a Northern Areas trip:
- Cash recharge stopped on 30 June 2026. Topping up now has to be done digitally, through the M-Tag One Network app or another approved channel, so set this up before you leave rather than at the toll plaza.
- A car without a valid, sufficiently funded M-Tag pays more, and from mid-2026 may have difficulty entering the motorway at all. Registration costs about PKR 200, and if your existing tag is more than five years old, it may need replacing; NHA had set replacement at no charge until 31 May 2026, rising to PKR 150 through June and PKR 300 from July.
If you're renting a car or borrowing one for the trip, check that its M-Tag is registered, valid and topped up before you set off. A blocked or empty tag is not something you want to discover at the first toll plaza out of Islamabad.
What the tolls add up to for a return trip
For a car making the round trip from Islamabad to Hunza and back, using the M-1 and Hazara Motorway both ways, tolls come to roughly PKR 2,200. From Lahore, adding the M-2 return leg brings the total closer to PKR 5,200. This is a small part of an overall Northern Areas trip cost next to fuel, rooms and food, but it's one of the few costs you can pay for entirely in advance if your M-Tag is funded before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
How much are motorway tolls from Islamabad to the Northern Areas?
Roughly PKR 1,100 each way for a car, using the M-1 and Hazara Motorway to reach Mansehra, where the tolled motorway network ends and the Karakoram Highway begins.
Is M-Tag compulsory now?
Yes. M-Tag became mandatory on Pakistan's motorways from 15 June 2026, and cash top-ups stopped from 30 June 2026. Cars without a valid, funded tag pay more and may struggle to enter the motorway.
Do these tolls apply on the Karakoram Highway itself?
No. Once you leave the Hazara Motorway at Mansehra, the rest of the route to Gilgit and beyond runs on the N-35, a national highway rather than a tolled motorway, though it has its own smaller toll plazas in places.
Are the Swat and Hazara motorways the same road?
No. The Hazara Motorway (E-35) runs from near Islamabad to Mansehra and is the route most Northern Areas traffic uses. The Swat Motorway (M-16) branches towards Swat and is only relevant if your trip includes that valley.
Where can I check current toll rates before I travel?
The National Highway Authority publishes revised toll notifications when rates change; check the current rate for your route rather than relying on last year's figure, since Pakistan moved to more frequent toll revisions during 2026.
Is the road beyond the motorways safe to drive?
Pakistani travellers drive the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas all year, but as of September 2026 the UK government advises against all travel on that stretch. The Babusar Pass gives an alternative route in summer that avoids it. Anyone travelling on a foreign passport should check their own government's current advice before setting out, since it can affect insurance cover.
