ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court banned the use of unregistered Qingqi rickshaws across the country on Wednesday.
SC directed the concerned authorities to only allow the motorcycle-rickshaws approved by the government.
The order was issued by a two-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed.
The order stated, “Besides approved Qingqi rickshaws no other rickshaw shall be allowed to operate.”
Justice Gulzar noted, “Buses from the 1950s are still operational in Karachi, and noisy Qingqi rickshaws are running all over the country. These rickshaws are dangerous and often flip over while taking sharp turns.”
He added, “The government has developed the Metro Bus, Green Bus, and Orange Line Transport services across the country, but there is no one to regulate the Qingqi rickshaw system.”
The state lawyer informed the court that illegal Qingqi rickshaws have been banned in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Noting the description of Qingqis not matching the description of vehicles prescribed in terms of Rule 2(e), (f) and (ff) of the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1969, the Sindh High Court (SHC) took legal action against the rickshaws in the province.