Airlift, Swvl reminded to run operations as per law: transport ministry
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Sindh Transport Secretary Ghulam Abbas on Sunday clarified that application-based private transport companies — Airlift and Swvl — have not been banned and have instead been directed to bring their operations under the ambit of the law.
Talking to DawnNewsTV, he said that the private services were operating without route permits and no-objection certificates. The transport department was unaware of their pick and drop spots, he said, adding that the two services had not obtained fitness certificates for their vehicles.
"We have issued a notice to them, asking them to brief the authorities about their mechanism and get their systems registered," he said.
The secretary further said that no one would be allowed to "jeopardise the lives of citizens".
Meanwhile, Sindh Transport Minister Owais Qadir Shah said that the government wants to provide high-quality transport services to citizens. He added that the online bus services had been permitted to run on a trial basis and a reminder to get certified was issued to them on the completion of their trial period.
"We want Airlift and Swvl to provide superior transport services in Karachi," he added.
Speaking of the government's initiatives in this regard, Shah said, "We are encouraging private investment in the transport sector and the Sindh government is also trying to bring in buses. However, the government is unable to implement its bus project immediately because it requires a heavy budget."
"We held talks with both online van services and asked them to get route permits and fitness certificates as per the motor vehicle laws within the stipulated time. Since that time has ended, we have just sent them a soft reminder which unfortunately is being misinterpreted."
The minister said that the provincial government was contemplating to introduce legislation for online van and taxi services. He expressed his hopes that the proposed legislation would be taken up in the forthcoming meeting of the provincial cabinet.
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Comments (48) Closed
Nov 10, 2019 06:33pm
They see an an opportunity to make some money from these companies.
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Nov 10, 2019 06:44pm
Sindh govt. has the audacity to ask for “fitness certificates “from these almost new vehicles , while hoodwinking toxic, smoke bellowing, death machines plying the roads of Karachi everyday .
People really should be up in arms against Sindh govt. otherwise they should just shut up and never complain .
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Nov 10, 2019 06:48pm
We all know they are reminded about the important token money they forgot to pay.
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Nov 10, 2019 06:54pm
The corrupt mafia do not miss a chance
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Nov 10, 2019 07:01pm
Someone should remind secretary of decade old noisy pieces of junks being used as public transport in Karachi.
Not to mention the depressed, exhausted and victims of huge corruption denizens popping out of the doors and windows of the buses.
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Nov 10, 2019 07:02pm
“Under the law”? Or “profit sharing”?
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Nov 10, 2019 07:06pm
In short , first bribe then operate.
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Nov 10, 2019 07:07pm
Please airlift, increase your routes...
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Nov 10, 2019 07:26pm
Fitness certificate?
What about fitness of 100s of mini buses already running on karachi roads???
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Nov 10, 2019 07:29pm
The Sindh government is incapable of providing transport facilities to people of Karachi as they do not get votes from this city. Let me correct myself, they are even unable to provide the basic facilities to their own constituencies.
The dear transport department, look at the conditions of the buses plying on Karachi roads. Are they fit for the public roads? The commuters and school-going children are sitting on bombs, the CNG cylinders. Are those public vehicles are fit for public transport? Your job is to provide transport facilities to people and you spend all the resources for yourself. Simply, it seems you wanted to get MONEY out of these companies.
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Nov 10, 2019 07:46pm
"The secretary further said that no one would be allowed to "jeopardise the lives of citizens". "
How ironic.... The dilapidated state of the existing transportation vehicles are downright dangerous.
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Nov 10, 2019 07:56pm
Just ensure that envelopes are given regularly to those who matter and everything will be fine for you.
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Nov 10, 2019 08:28pm
Absurd. Private companies which benefit the govt more will be given greater/better bus routes, the other will be left to rot.
So much for ‘ease of business’ and attracting foreign investments.
If the provincial govt can’t do anything - and we know it can’t - at least please let the others do YOUR job.
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Nov 10, 2019 08:31pm
They want their share in the income. One can see the apathy condition of public transport (buses & mini buses) in Karachi, which have fitness certificates from transport department Govt. of Sindh
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Nov 10, 2019 08:53pm
Fitness Certificate, please provide fitness certificate copies to the 1960 and 1970 buses and taxies stop making fool of Karachites
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Nov 10, 2019 09:16pm
Before asking Airlift and swvl for fitness certificate transport ministry should look at condition of existing buses that are operating with so called fitness cerificate
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Nov 10, 2019 09:17pm
The secretary further said that no one would be allowed to "jeopardise the lives of citizens". Is the city looks like this, Mr secretary.
Almost all the roads in bad shape. No one is safe when on the road. No law, no road sense either in the pedestrians and drivers.
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Nov 10, 2019 09:37pm
The secretary further said that no one would be allowed to "jeopardise the lives of citizens". Big talk. All our lords say the same thing.
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Nov 10, 2019 09:53pm
All they want is bribes. Kindly ask the minister to see the bus conditions which are running on the roads of karachi. He cannot see as they receive huge bribes per month from transport mafia.
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Nov 10, 2019 10:01pm
Get them registered so that Sindh Transport Ministry can put taxes and make these services expensive with no knowledge of where the tax money goes. Careem has become expensive because the Sindh government takes taxes and the public doesn't know where that money goes. If Sindh Transport ministry can't solve peoples transport problems then ATL east it should stay away from those who can
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Nov 10, 2019 10:31pm
yeah , like the old carry dabas from 1980s have valid fitness certificates
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Nov 10, 2019 10:44pm
Sind government and transport minister Mafia. How they give route permit to old and damage busses and mini busses running on Karachi roads they should've shameful
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Nov 10, 2019 10:48pm
Request Sind Transport minister to visit Lahore. And how they give route to old and damage busses and mini uses running on Karachi roads.
Pls do something good for citizen of Karachi
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Nov 10, 2019 11:48pm
@Troubled, So true, all they want is kickback money!
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Nov 11, 2019 12:07am
Getting permits means paying bribes to Sindh Government and extortion money to police?
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Nov 11, 2019 12:19am
So all of the public transport being operated in the city have route permits and fitness certificates but why don't we see transporters completing their routes having their vehicles as per fitness standards. Infact you are making the mockery of law. First you don't provide quality services to the masses and secondly you create impediments in the way if public decide improve their conditions by themselves. Shame on you.
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Nov 11, 2019 01:03am
Dear Corrupt and Incompetent Sindh Govt., Did you ever remind the private bus mafia in Karachi to take route permits and fitness certificates? Just travel on a route in popular D7 and W11/W18 mini buses and you will know how ‘fit’ they are!
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Nov 11, 2019 03:03am
Did I read it correctly that the Sindh Transport minister asked them to get fitness certificates for their vehicles?
So all the transport in Karachi has passed the fitness certification ? What a joke.
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Nov 11, 2019 03:09am
Yes right, all those other public buses have fitness certificates and are as per law. What a joke
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Nov 11, 2019 03:10am
What mafia..? All over the world.. including uber needs permits and fitness certificates... this is completely right.. and should be done.. they should register and pay up
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Nov 11, 2019 04:04am
Let private sector support Pakistani's needs....government should facilitate them to create jobs and reduce congestion on Karachi streets. Corrupt governments always find ways to create red tape and hurdles unless their pockets are filled.
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Nov 11, 2019 06:48am
How come they are playing the lives of people? Look at condition of their transport vis other private and government vehicles! On some aspects Government is not wrong but on some beyond imagination.....
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Nov 11, 2019 07:08am
If this is a regulation matter then we should commend the Govt effort to regulate transport industry. Private companies are not above the law where in the world you can bring any transport on the road without regulation, permit or licence? I guess only in Pakistan.
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Nov 11, 2019 07:55am
These companies have developed their own routes without any permission and need to be regularised. Can't exempt a bus from transport laws if they are online. Careem and Uber are Taxis without taxi color and permit enabling middle class people to run taxis without being called a taxi driver but eat the share of taxis. Being online doesn't mean exemption from law
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Nov 11, 2019 08:08am
Sindh govt is too incompetent to provide public transport. But when private sector is investing to fill that gap, the Sindh govt will not let them, instead they want their cut. This is called corruption.
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Nov 11, 2019 08:43am
"We want Airlift and Swvl to provide superior transport services in Karachi," he added.
When will the Sindh government provide SUPERIOR roads for the people of Karachi and other parts of the province?
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Nov 11, 2019 08:44am
It is all about my quick money & nothing else
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Nov 11, 2019 08:45am
Yes, these companies should make sure the fitness of their vehicles are 100% as all other vehicles on our roads, specially motorbikes, half of which have no front and rear lights, no side mirrors. The trucks and buses which are spewing block smoke on the roads.
Swvl and Airlift are certainly not upto our standards
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Nov 11, 2019 08:51am
"The transport department was unaware of their pick and drop spots, he said, adding that the two services had not obtained fitness certificates for their vehicles."
Do the current TEEN DABBA buses currently running in the city have designated pick up / drop off points that they follow? Also, how about their fitness with rusted, weak structures, fitted with unauthorized cylinders for CNG?
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Nov 11, 2019 08:58am
I have forgotten how should i feel when i see the "mafia" based transporters running their buses on so called "declared routes" and somehow have all the documents required.
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Nov 11, 2019 09:43am
It is unfortunate that Govt. has barely any control to regulate the private sector within the ambit of law. Previously, it were the private schools disobeying the orders of the provincial government and now it is the self-regulated transport company, which cares a bit for the law. Instead of advising the transport company to bring its operation under the ambit of law, why the government is not taking action against the company, which has started operations on Karachi roads without the formal permission of the governing authority? The first action to take is to suspend the operation of the company and order it to seek formal permission from the relevant transport authority before restarting the service.
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Nov 11, 2019 10:07am
Pathan Transport Mafia is behind the move. Sindh Govt has no problem is allowing all the unfit vehicles plying on Karachi roads as they are run by transport mafia in Karachi. Sad but true.
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Nov 11, 2019 10:51am
@Rao Abdul Uzair Khan, So basically, the W11 and all other decked up buses are fit for travel? Have you ever travelled in those buses?
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Nov 11, 2019 11:32am
@Omar, Law is law. That you can bribe your way through with deficiencies is an other matter and should be dealt separately. By that token all departments is Pakistan should pack up their rules and regulations.
But like the driving license, I am sure if they have good roadworthy vehicles, proper routes, and licensed drivers, their operators can get the permits without a heavy bribe.
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Nov 11, 2019 11:47am
Just because these two companies raised money a few weeks ago and were given extremely high valuations.
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Nov 11, 2019 01:12pm
@Rao Abdul Uzair Khan, "All over the world.. including uber needs permits and fitness certificates." All over the world, there are proper transport services provided by the government that ask to pay tax and fitness certificates. Here just take a look at the buses, taxi, ricksahws, chingchis, trucks etc. Do you think the pay taxes and have fitness certificates? Compared to these "certified" transportation, Airlift and SWVL are using spaceships and providing free of cost transport.
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Nov 11, 2019 03:10pm
Sindh government talk about fitness test, so does the current transportation which we are getting passed the Fitness test? The smoke bellowing buses which causes multiple deaths in the city & passengers are just stepping on one another are not required.
Swvl & Airlift are providing the best conveyance facility in the city rightnow and passengers are happy with it. Sindh Government should focus on current transportation.
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Nov 11, 2019 05:11pm
Very interesting the minister of transport Sind tells the private transporters as airlift to work like we do that is nothing to be able to operate in Sindh
Well done
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