The Supreme Court on Wednesday banned the use of unregistered motorcycle-rickshaws, better known as Qingqi rickshaws, across the country, saying it was making an exception only for Qingqis approved by the government.

A two-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed issued the order, stating: "Besides approved Qingqi rickshaws no other rickshaw shall be allowed to operate."

Highlighting the poor standards for public transportation in the country, Justice Gulzar noted that: "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 manoeuvring sharp turns."

"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," he observed.

"The government seems to be sleeping on these matters," he regretted.

Acknowledging the implications of its decision, the court urged the government to resolve the issue and ensure that people do not lose their sources of income.

Justice Gulzar Ahmed also clarified that the ban on illegal Qingqi rickshaws was being imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Balochistan.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) had previously ordered legal action against Qingqis in the province, noting that the description of Qingqi rickshaws did not match the description of vehicles prescribed in terms of Rule 2(e), (f) and (ff) of the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1969.