An old photo of an earlier protest by rickshaw drivers. PHOTO: ONLINE
To overcome traffic clogs in the city and to speed up the flow on roads, the traffic police imposed the ban across the city.
AIGP Ghulam Qadir Thebo told The Express Tribune that they have started a crackdown against Qingqi rickshaws in the city and have banned its use as public transportation.
The initial ban was only for district South, but police have extended it to the entire city now, he clarified.
Over 200 of these rickshaws have been impounded by the police in the last two days since the crackdown started.
Read our detailed report on Qingqi rickshaws here.
COMMENTS (24)
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this is bad news many people are travel in qinchi riqshaw government please open it .. its easy for me and girls...
this is bad news many people are travel in qinchi riqshaw government please open it .. its easy for me and girls...
I am very happy and hope this happens soon in Lahore also. Qingqi should be banned for a number of reasons:_
Noise pollution Congestion Air pollution Hazardous UnsafeI do understand that it is the transport for the poor which i also use now and then but they cause more problems to the envionment and society than good. People will always find another alternative. Its time to make Pakistan a safe environment and in line with the rest of the devoloping countries.
Although they are a menace they still should be allowed as the transport system in karachi is a complete mess and a demeaning experience. Chinchi are a cheaper, cleaner and affordable mode. Being a motorist Chinchi really irritates me but it's a much needed facility for the general public. I am all for it.
I am not at all happy to read the news that Quinqi Rikshaw has been banned in the city.
This was the bread and butter of the poor people as well as having cheaper fare comparison to busses and mini-buses.
The plea of the Police is that Motorcycles used in Quinqi Rikshaw was the stolen Motorbikes, but come all the Quinqi Rikshaw would be having motor bikes.
The Quinqi Rikshaw drivers must not be paying Bhatta to Police and this is the very reason that Police crack down the Quinqi Rikshaw in Karachi.
A very sad situation.
Not sure but i believe the transport mafia had a big hand in this. The rickshaws were taking away customers from the transport mafia. Why do you think the CNG buses imported years ago are still rotting?? The mini buses in Karachi are driven by illiterate people and are usually the cause of many an accidents and traffic jams? why is it that no action has ever been taken againsst them to improve their service and driving attitudes?
Qinchi should not be allowed to ply on Karachi roads. Karachi is a metropolis with a population of about 1.5 crores .it needs decent public transport system as is available in every metropolis in the world and not Qinchi which is a nuisance on the roads. These Qinchis have degenerated the metropolis into some small town which gives bad impression on tourists that people in metropolis travels long distance on these risky vehicles. It should be banned totally and immediately but also alternate arrangements shall be made to provide safe adequate and decent public transport system to the citizens of Karachi, but Qinchi in any case is absolutely not accepted, drive them roads of Karachi immediately.
It is inhumane to take away someone's livelihood. I hate the rickshaws so much. But I would never consider banning them. Give people a decent transportation system perhaps and then solve the employment issue before taking such a step.
First you allow and encourage them, and when it becomes ones livelihood, and people start depending on it, it is banned!... It was starting to become a nuisance, but the planners have to think in the larger perspective......it is really easy to ban such developments on the basis of law,...and it is interesting to see when the law is used for such decisions, ... we come to know that it is always against the poor of the city. We seldom find law being activated against the previllaged, since they build the law in such a way that they can easily place themselves beyond it. It might be nuisance for many, but it is always relative....nuisance for whom?, for those who have thier own cars? or for those who want an affordable mode of travel in such times of inflation and uncertainity? Ever wonder, the car might be a nuisance for the pedestrians....do you ban it?....it depends whose perspective is more important!...it is the game of power.
Now you want them to sit at home, plan something illegal to feed thier families........right??
Dont allow in the first place.....it is nt something which came as surprise to the city !!!!
@R2D2:
Well not everyone can afford to travel in an air-conditioned car like you. Qingqis are far more convenient, safe and comfortable and even cheaper than a minibus to travel in (in which people are cramped like sardines and sit unsafely on the roof) - I use a Qingqi daily to and from college. In the absence of a proper public transport system, it's a good solution for Karachi's public. It's hard to pick out a single public transporter in Karachi that is following traffic rules, why single out Qingqis?
if want to ban chinchi,why they let them start ? they all are poor peoples.they almost invest there belonging and now the lazey officers wake up,suppose to be the chinchi motersycle is stolen it may be the another group why u teasing this poor peopl and making them jobless???
It is world safest public transport vehicle. Why ban? Karachi desperately need mass transit system like over and underground train system.
The government's standard solution to all our problems...ban it!! Ban skype, sms, kites, 2 people riding a motorcycle, and now Qingqi's. The really problem is Karachi's infrastructure has not being developed in step with its growing population. Bottom line, the people need to get to where they are going, cheaply. If they don't use athe Qingqi, they will over-burden the other public transport systems (which are already stretched). The solution is bigger / better roads / LRT system & enforcement of existing traffic laws. Of course, that means the government has to do something...ie work. Thus, a ban is easier!
ashar@ ask pp to gift us RBTS or atleast meters in rikshaw and taxis
Yes, they are hazard, they are not appropriate, they are not complete.............................................................................................................. but still it is in used of a poor people, it is and was usefull to many of them and also their families. specially i have seen many college girls and school children used it for easy and convenient way of travelling and, infact; it work out for them, not waiting for bus and other traffic mafia.
Really the mafia rules in the city no one else.
Would have been better if Qingqis drivers were forced to obey traffic rules and not encroach upon roads.
Other than that, qingqis provide good employment. They have proven a good tool to break the hold of the public bus transport mafia. They are also a good shuttling transport that can take people over short distances.
I just hope the many people whose livelihoods are affected here will find jobs and not convert to criminals in this already crime filled city.
fi this is getting banned than it is time to ban the broken down busses that are drivin like a race car and pollute that air we breath.
but will this happen as the biggest metropolitan city in PK, we dont even have an organized transport system.
We do not have any train system in where 15,000,000 have of Canada population lives.
the provincional govt first should get organized than plan to cut this ricksha and Qingqi.
@R2D2: Well Said !!
@ashar: So Who's gift it is in Lahore!?
I think this step was a MUST. I applaud the police for taking this tough decision. The Qinchis are safety hazards, they clog the roads completely and their drivers have no regard for traffic rules. Everywhere where a Qinchi can fit, there is one standing there already.
Thank you for banning them and let the ban stay.
these r used by poor people and offer good employment opportunity. may be we allow certain routes where they operate like mini bus. Also consider, allowing bike rickhsaws where only 1 passanger sits behind motor bike
This is really needed. Not only are these rickshaws made of stolen bikes, but they choke off roads, park where they're not supposed to, drive slow in the fast lanes and are a way of entry for hordes of taliban-like immigrants from border lands who then create ghettos, crime and religious issues. Before they become powerful mobs like the bus-walas, truck-walas, dumper-walas, trawler-walas....nip this thing in the bud and toss them out!
Qingqi is a gift of MQM to Karachi. Please dont ban it.