PESHAWAR: The transporters and traders here have expressed concern over the increasing number of unregistered auto-rickshaws and demanded of the provincial government to impose ban on the movement of illegal tri-wheelers to overcome traffic issues in the provincial metropolis.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, Rickshaw Drivers Union president Baz Mohammad Khan said that one of the major causes of the traffic problems in Peshawar was the increasing number of illegal vehicles, particularly auto-rickshaws and Qingqis.

Flanked by representatives of local traders, including Badar Zaman, Amanullah Khan and Izat Khan, he referred to a media report quoting the excise and taxation department to register all the unregistered rickshaws in Peshawar and said that the local transporters and traders would oppose such a step.

Baz Mohammad said that a local court had already banned registration of new rickshaws for a period of 10 years (till 2026) and in case the provincial government continued the registration process it would be a violation of the court order.

“We will move to the relevant court if the government started registration. Everyone knows that the rickshaws were manufactured in Lahore and shifted to Peshawar without documents because no one here is taking action against them,” he lamented.

The transporters’ representatives, he said, had also held meetings with the relevant police and administration officials to seek their help in controlling the unregistered vehicles, but the government was yet to take the issue seriously.

The traders urged the government to take strict action against illegal rickshaw stands and unregistered vehicles and remove the encroachments to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the busy roads inside Peshawar city.

They warned that in case the government did not pay heed to their demands they would start protest demonstrations.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2019