The Punjab government has decided to ban three-wheeler rickshaws, aiming to reduce air pollution, noise, and traffic accidents linked to this popular but unsafe mode of transport. However, this decision has sparked protests from low-income locals who depend on rickshaws for their livelihood. Zeeshan Ali, a 23-year-old rickshaw driver and the sole breadwinner of his family, expressed concern about the financial hardship he and many others will face without a clear alternative source of income. Ali highlighted that rickshaw drivers, who often earn only a few hundred rupees daily, have invested in vehicles worth Rs 200,000.
There are over 625,000 registered three-wheeler rickshaws across Punjab, with nearly 300,000 in Lahore alone. Majeed Ghauri, Chairman of the Awami Rickshaw Union, criticized the government’s decision, arguing that it unfairly targets low-income workers and overlooks the inadequacies of public transport in Lahore. He pointed out that Qingqi rickshaws, which operate on side streets, help meet transportation needs that the metro and buses cannot address.
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In response to the concerns, Faisal Sultan, Secretary of the Punjab Provincial Transport Authority (PTA), clarified that the ban only applies to unsafe, unregistered three-wheelers manufactured on the streets. He explained that these makeshift vehicles, often crafted by welding a cart to a motorcycle, are prone to accidents due to their design. Sultan assured that the ban would be implemented gradually to avoid disrupting the livelihoods of rickshaw drivers.
Former Additional IG Traffic Muhammad Altaf Qamar supported a complete ban on Qingqi rickshaws, citing their involvement in over 25% of traffic accidents. The Punjab government has already sealed more than 250 factories manufacturing illegal Qingqi rickshaw bodies. As of now, 65,000 rickshaw drivers have submitted applications for registration, with most receiving the necessary clearance. A crackdown on unregistered vehicles is set to begin in December.
