Part-time bikers: Employees juggle office work and delivery shifts in Rawalpindi

Unemployment, inflation, privatisation of government institutions, and skyrocketing utility bills have forced government and private sector employees to take up part-time work as motorcycle riders for app-based bike-hailing services and food delivery chains.

Not only lower-grade employees but even staff up to scale-16 have started riding for Bykea and food delivery services after working hours, with the number of riders in Rawalpindi reaching 25,000.

Women have also entered the field, catering exclusively to female passengers, while rising fares have pushed women passengers to increasingly use male bike-hailing services as well.

As bike-hailing services offer lower fares—charging Rs200 for routes where rickshaws demand Rs400–500—traditional taxi, rickshaw, and Qingqi businesses have been badly affected.

Some riders are now taking two passengers per trip, while police report an increase in snatching and robbery incidents involving criminals posing as riders. Riders say their daily part-time earnings range from Rs700 to Rs1,000, in addition to salaries.

Rider leaders, including Farman Ali and Hishmat Ali, argued that genuine riders earn halal livelihoods, while criminals misuse the system by booking riders and robbing them or passengers.

Fourth-grade government employee Faisal Siddiqui, who works part-time as a food delivery rider, said he earns Rs500–600 between 6 pm and 1 am, which helps cover household expenses.

With the ongoing privatisation of schools and health units, experts predict the number of part-time riders will continue to rise.