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Taxi drivers in Islamabad held a protest against the impact of online cab services on their livelihood on Sunday.
Conventional cab drivers participating in the protest claimed that their income is being affected due to the growing number of private taxi service providers and called for the number of vehicles in the fleets of web-based services — like Careem and Uber — to be curtailed.
The protesters, comprising 50 to 60 taxis backed by the Taxi Drivers Association, took to the streets at Faizabad Interchange at 10am and are expected to end their rally at Bani Gala.
The protest briefly turned violent at Rawal Chowk, when taxi drivers smashed the windows of vehicles belonging to two private cab companies.
Similar protests have been held in other parts of the country by conventional taxi and rickshaw drivers who allege that private cab companies have affected their livelihood.
Earlier this year, Punjab's Transport Authority declared that private cab companies, such as Careem and Uber, were operating "without registering the private cars with any regulatory body" and therefore, must be banned.
A similar announcement was made by Sindh Transport Secretary Taha Farooqi. The decision, however, was later withdrawn.
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Comments (60) Closed
Aug 20, 2017 03:23pm
They should have realized this earlier.
These people has high margin of prophets and now they are dying . If they would have cost legal prices, then would not suffer today. people already Fed up from these.
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Aug 20, 2017 03:31pm
Why don't they also join Careem and Uber?
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Aug 20, 2017 03:33pm
I really appreciate Careem and uber, they provide very good facility.
But at the same time I feel sorry for these poor taxi drivers, there income has been affected.
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Aug 20, 2017 03:46pm
@RZ These taxi drivers are not pleasant people. They keep taxis very dirty and have not customer service they are fleecing people. In the last visit in Karachi I enjoyed the Careem service. I met very nice drivers of Careem they were educated and polite.
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Aug 20, 2017 03:51pm
The Uber & Careem services are far far better & cheaper than the old, & rotten Taxi services .
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Aug 20, 2017 03:52pm
@Nauman Let them join Uber & Careem services
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Aug 20, 2017 03:56pm
Careem and Uber are relief for common person from Taxi mafia. The taxi and van mafia have never allowed any nice transport system to operate in Rawalpindi / Islamabad area. Let's see how successful they are this type.
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Aug 20, 2017 04:17pm
Either provide the best customer service or fizzle out...one must keep pace with the rapidly changing world. I am sorry but that how life goes...
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Aug 20, 2017 04:22pm
@Zafar Ahmed Careem and Uber have some standards.They won't alive these rotten cars to join their fleets.And for good reason.
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Aug 20, 2017 04:37pm
The world has changed and moved on. These taxi drivers need dose of reality.
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Aug 20, 2017 04:51pm
Its true that traditional taxi drivers are charging higher rates than private cabs and they cannot compete in new business environment. It's better for them to charge commuters on per kilometer bases with competitive rates.
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Aug 20, 2017 04:54pm
Taxi drivers never organized themselves nor updated/modernized their services. They have to update their taxis according to the need of the time to remain competitive.
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Aug 20, 2017 05:07pm
What else can they say to save their livelihood and source of income?
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Aug 20, 2017 05:07pm
Full support for Careem and Uber.. These people are the ones who laid back on their seats all day smoking and gossiping and when a customer would approach then they would demand nothing less than 500. 5 trips a day and a day well earned. Careem and Uber have really had them bend their backs and this is what they are protesting against! No more easy money for them.
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Aug 20, 2017 05:07pm
poor taxi drivers dont know Darwan's survival of the fittest theory.
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Aug 20, 2017 05:13pm
e,g I live in clifton karachi and a frequent travel within and outside country. airport from my house is like 26 km. Metro cab charges me Rs. 900 for a pick and drop. while careem charges me 375-475 per trip. if i take a taxi wala or a rickshaw wala, they charge me 1000 and 600 respectively.
so my thumbs up for careem and uber services. plus every time i travel through them within city, i make up good friends who are educated, decent and earning livelihood through a respectable way.
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Aug 20, 2017 05:16pm
Careem and Uber is now international provider of safe travelling in inner cities including USA.
Unfortunately, traditional taxi services will be impacted with this fast growing industry. These taxi drivers either need to upgrade their services or find another business. No one is interested to ride in a cab without AC and dirty seats.
Others opportunities they may like to looks for pick and drop services for school children and exclusive airport services. Blocking traffic is no more proper action.
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Aug 20, 2017 05:21pm
This is same problem all over world cities.. The taxi drivers have gone almost bankrupt... Gov don't support taxi drivers as they want collect tax from umber n Web companies... Plus they are cheaper... There's. No solution.. Do some other job.. Poor taxi driver cannot use Web based as they requirement for new cars too expensive
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Aug 20, 2017 05:21pm
Careem and Uber is now international provider of safe travelling in inner cities including USA.
Unfortunately, traditional taxi services will be impacted with this fast growing industry. These taxi drivers either need to upgrade their services or find another business. No one is interested to ride in a cab without AC and dirty seats.
Others opportunities they may like to looks for pick and drop services for school children and exclusive airport services. Blocking traffic is no more proper action.
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Aug 20, 2017 05:40pm
The drivers at Careem and Uber are also common people earning their money in a respectable and Halal way.
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Aug 20, 2017 05:40pm
After having gone through all 16 comments (so far) it is CLEAR what the public voice is, what the public WANTS and who's side is it ON!
Yes, these taxi drivers should open their eyes to reality & YES they had a habit of fleecing people, earning exorbitant profit margins all the while, keeping the main thing, the RIDE dirty & unclean! oh and CRAMPED also (imagine a family of five sitting inside a Mehran, excluding the driver!)
Yes, they should either join such online services and accept the reduced commuting charges OR they should look for other ways of earning income (someone had mentioned pick & drop service of school kids etc).
Uber & Careem, no doubt they have brought a revolutionary (positive) change in commuting culture of Pakistan; such drastic change is bound to have deep & lasting impact on the industry in which it operates. And all stakeholders should be properly educated in this regard.
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Aug 20, 2017 06:44pm
The only reason for using Uber and careem services by many people is not that they wanted the luxurious car with AC.The reason is that they wanted the drivers to charge them with legal and reasonable fare. If the taxi drivers will continue charging more fare than the online Uber and careem there business will be ruined.
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Aug 20, 2017 07:37pm
1. Careem and Uber drivers are charging 60-80% less fares
2. They don't argue on destination.
3. Their cars are always air conditioned.
4. Fare is calculated in a transparent manner.
Improve your service rather than protesting.
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Aug 20, 2017 07:39pm
I feel comfortable while using Uber as they are taking nominal charges according to your journey. I also asked rate from other taxi drivers but they want to rob your money as much as possible. Other taxi drivers should also join Careem and Uber.
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Aug 20, 2017 07:55pm
First of all they can join careem taxi service! there is no reason to complain. I guess they want over profit as these people want more and more. Charging obviously too high, bad attitude etc is what bring them at this position. If they drive with fare charges they will customers. I mean come on these taxi drivers were charging 200 rupees for 1 km which is really a big price. So far careem services will not effect with this, taxi drivers only needs to join the hands with careem unless they want to get out completely.
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Aug 20, 2017 08:43pm
Time and tide waits for none.
Not even mughals like shareef dynasty
These cabbies should learn new modern way.
Beside these cabbies are unethical and rude
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Aug 20, 2017 09:01pm
Unjustified and unreasonable protest.
These junk vehicle drivers want the people to suffer for ever, physically and financially ?
They must go home and do something else.
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Aug 20, 2017 09:38pm
Careem or Uber should help these Taxi drivers to become part of their family may by providing driver jobs or vehicle on interest free loan or work with bank to help them to get loan and better fuel efficient cars which not only help them but also help passengers
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Aug 20, 2017 09:57pm
Government cannot influence public what to use or not. Someone need to explain these cab drivers. Most Uber or Cream operators are educated and at least background checked individuals. And most cab drivers cannot handle this internet business.
There is safety and economics using Uber and Creem services. Sorry, cab drivers. Find other job or vocation.
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Aug 20, 2017 10:09pm
I drove taxi for many years and I can understand my taxi brothers frustration on line car service had killed the traditional taxi business around the world on line car
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Aug 20, 2017 10:43pm
Opinion of Careem and Uber should also be sought. Similarly opinion of their captains and that of the general public be sought also. Public or customers pay for commute. If Careem and Uber are providing quality services to clients compared to the usual taxis, then so be it. The taxi drivers need to adapt then cry foul over new changes.
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Aug 20, 2017 11:14pm
If you dont change, You become antique. Neither your appeal to emotions, nor your frustration is going to work. Just switch to Uber or Careem.
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Aug 21, 2017 12:01am
It is unbelieveable what quality of vehicles are being run by these private taxi services. I asked one of the taxi drivers about the price he paid in buying his 37 years old Suzuki FX, he said got it on instalments for a total price of Rs. 85,000/=
In comparison, Careem vehicles are at least of the price range of Rs 1.0 to 1.5 million!
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Aug 21, 2017 12:16am
These taxi were looting passenger in fare like our corrupt political looted country for 70 years now private taxi charges less these taxi are crying love our politian
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Aug 21, 2017 05:25am
They run their taxis on gas and charge fare for petrol. Sometimes even blackmail if somebody is in urgent need. They should try to adapt to the new trends and this monopoly should end. It's good new private companies are coming so it will be more competitive.
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Aug 21, 2017 07:51am
we the residents of rawalpidi and islamabad wellcome private web based companies with new cars better and secure services and very less fares with educated and well behaved drivers, same sort of services being provided in australia. nation got relieved from heavy demand of fares from taxi drivers with their very old vehicles
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Aug 21, 2017 07:52am
I am a frequent traveler and have faced the monopoly and bad attitude of local taxi drivers hundreds of time. I fully support Careem and Uber and demand them to launch their services in smaller cities as well.
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Aug 21, 2017 07:54am
@Nauman due to their high fares now they are sufering
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Aug 21, 2017 08:18am
@RZ .. Because the dismal condition of their cars and the absolute lack of personal hygiene and clean clothes etc., of the drivers themselves preclude their eligibility.
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Aug 21, 2017 09:25am
Why cry through taxi miafia
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Aug 21, 2017 11:44am
In India the Black and yellow taxis were dirty not clean refused fares often overcharged customer and generally had below par service attitude. Now the customer prefers clean cabs AC cabs timely performance and proper fares. So these black and yellow taxis are on the roads which they deserve. They are paying for their high handedness
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Aug 21, 2017 12:29pm
Careem and Uber are specially suitable for ladies.
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Aug 21, 2017 01:18pm
There is as such no law which impinges on such marvellous start up. This start ups like careem uber are legal and cannot be banned on request of some group. The taxis were charging very high but this start up provides very reasonable fare and travelling environment. the taxi driver are advised to sell their cars and join careem or uber
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Aug 21, 2017 01:38pm
Long time coming -
What exactly is the benefit of registering with a regulatory body?
The service may be negatively impacting their income, but is positively impacting the income of those working as Careem / Uber drivers. Not to mention the experience of the consumer is much better.
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Aug 21, 2017 01:54pm
1- I was traveling in third class taxis (models of 80's) on daily basis paying Rs. 700/day. It costs me less than Rs. 500/day in air-conditioned vehicle now.
2- Most of the drivers of these old taxis are either illiterate or have no sense of respect for consumer.
Why should I support them?
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Aug 21, 2017 02:10pm
I almost always had a bad experience with these taxi drivers. Often they are discourteous. There is no price standardisation either.
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Aug 21, 2017 03:18pm
Sorry guys. no sympathy but you have to embrace the competition and increase the value of your provided services.
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Aug 21, 2017 04:51pm
@RZ . Because they cannot. Careem and Uber have strict rules, for the vehicle and for the driver.
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Aug 21, 2017 07:24pm
Taxi travel has become a pleasure in India too. Thanks to Ola and Uber. Even the pre-paid taxi service at the airport use to charge exactly double the cost that we pay now. For your information many people are now selling off their cars as Taxi travel is cheap and very reliable now.
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Aug 21, 2017 09:14pm
My brother & mother visited Lahore this weekend, and were super thrilled with the service of Careem. From our home to Daewoo terminal, a cab driver charged PKR 400, while the same ride back with Careem was PKR 240 in an air-conditioned bigger sedan.
So my question from a consumer perspective: why should I pay a lousy taxi cab almost 160 Rupees more when I can get a better air conditioned service with lesser money?
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Aug 21, 2017 11:14pm
These taxi drivers should raise their standards and should reduce their prices and should make a committee to provide online services cheaper than Careem and Uber... People will definitely avail their service. They should compete in the market and should not play in a dirty way like most of our politicians...
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Aug 22, 2017 10:19am
every class of people exist in this country, so, i think the taxi driver should not disheart, if one use creem etc, the other will use taxi
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Aug 22, 2017 01:47pm
Companies like Careem and Uber are a necessity now. Specially for women they are a blessing as one doesnt have to go and stand outside to hail a cab. The cars are much better and also more secure as u can share ur current location with your loved ones.
But not everyone is literate enough to use these services so I think the old cabs too will survive but many.
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Aug 22, 2017 02:17pm
Poor fellows, this phenomena is old, here we too have this same issue initially. Before this There were tangewalas(Horse carts) against motorized vehicle. But these taxi fellows too have family to feed. Let them have some honorable exit and employment to go forward. Once private taxi (app based)provider capture the market, you will come to know about 2X, 4X rate, which by the way is way ahead of normal taxi fares.
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Aug 22, 2017 02:21pm
@RZ Their cars do not qualify to be part of the Careem and Uber fleet , they must be atleast 2015 model
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Aug 23, 2017 01:57am
I still remember when I was a child I used to see meters in Taxis and Rikshaws. Then these maafia removed it and start charging hell out of a money. Now they are crying.
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Aug 23, 2017 02:08am
Uber and Careem cater needs of that sections of society which owns smartphones and high speed internet.This consist of less than 20 percent of people so rest of 80 percent are there to be captured by taxi, Riksha etc. So web based and conventional services both can co-exist comfortably.
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Aug 23, 2017 10:56am
@RZ brilliant idea... .
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Aug 23, 2017 06:06pm
A very good service available to the public at their location. The general cab drivers should rationalise the fair, improve their vhicals and get into competition rather than closing something good to the public.
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Aug 23, 2017 06:19pm
No other choice but to join Uber and Careem. The monopoly and big asking prices from these taxi drivers had to end some day. Thanks for Uber and Careem to occupy that space.
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