ISLAMABAD: Even as app-based transport services such as Uber changing the face of public transport around the world, a group of fresh graduates from federal capital is offering commuters a novel way to get around quicker and at far less cost.

Students from the National University of Sciences and Technology (Nust) have started a transport service called CARGAR, which operates via a smart-phone app.

The application, which is one of the many recently launched in the federal capital, is being run with support from Nust’s Centre for Information and Entrepreneurship.

However, instead of a car, the service offers transport on a motorbike, which makes it extremely affordable.

Run via smartphone apps, CARGAR and Careem offer speedy, affordable transport

The application caters specifically to students such as Sohail Ahmed, 18, who says he cannot afford a taxi and cannot travel on public transport on days that his father is not available to drop him off at his college.

“When my father is not in the city, I have to hire a taxi and pay between Rs250 and Rs350 to get from I-10 to H-8,” he said. But using the CARGAR service is cheaper and faster.

CARGAR CEO and co-founder Faran Ahmed said he graduated from Nust this June and launched the mobile app soon after.

“I graduated from a good university but there still weren’t many options when it came to jobs and a number of my classmates are still struggling to find work. I thought I should start a business of my own and within a few months, I could provide jobs for 18 people,” he said.

Talking about the application, Mr Ahmed said he conceived the idea for a motorbike taxi from a visit to Indonesia, where most people prefer riding a motorbike cab as they are more affordable and speedy, even during a traffic jam.

“The motorbike taxi can be called through the application and customers have to pay Rs20 service charges and Rs15 per kilometre. A helmet, rain coat and a portable battery for charging mobile phones will also be provided,” he said.

Mr Ahmed said he expects business to improve after the summer vacations when students will need affordable transport to get to schools and colleges. He said the service is currently limited to H-11 and H-12 and that it will soon be offered across the city.

“All our drivers have licenses and customers will be asked to rate their journeys so every driver has a rating. We are always offering part time jobs,’ he said.

The young entrepreneur said he is also considering hiring women drivers to cater to women customers.

Another transport service that is run via mobile app is Careem, the ride-sharing service modelled on the style of Uber. Using satellite maps, just like the CARGAR app, the service is able to provide a taxi service right at the commuter’s doorstep.

In addition, an accurate destination calculator also gives the user an estimate of the total fare before one books a ride.

“No longer are we forced to hail taxis on the roads; you just install the app and a car will show up at your doorstep. They are clean, the drivers I’ve interacted with so far are courteous and its economical,” said Sarah Fareed, who has also used the service in other cities too.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2016