KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday directed the provincial authorities and some charities to file comments on a petition seeking uniform rules and standard tariff guidelines for private ambulance services operating in the province.

Citing the Sindh chief secretary, health secretary, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Karachi commissioner, Edhi Foundation, Chhipa Welfare Association, JDC Foundation and various other charities as respondents, a non-profitable organisation filed a petition before the SHC on behalf of citizens of Sindh who, it claimed, were adversely affected by excessive ambulance charges imposed by certain NGOs and private ambulance operators.

It submitted that ambulance services were an essential public service for timely transportation of patients to hospitals during emergencies including accidents, sudden critical illness and other urgent medical situations.

However, certain private ambulance service providers were charging exorbitant and arbitrary rates ranging between Rs1,500 and Rs2,000 from patients, the petitioner said, adding that they issued receipts reflecting significantly lower amount typically between Rs250 and Rs300 with mala fide intention of evading taxes and regulatory oversight.

It also argued that in the absence of a proper mechanism to regulate private ambulance services and to ensure fair and reasonable charges, the operators were imposing arbitrary fees without any accountability.

The petitioner submitted that in order to ensure transparency and effective monitoring, a digital app be developed under the supervision of government and FBR for registration and regulation of all ambulance operators.

It also sought directives for provincial authorities to frame uniform rules and standard tariff guidelines for ambulance services including permissible operational costs.

The petitioner further pleaded that all ambulances be equipped with a proper distance-based meter/GPS tracking system, establishment of a helpline to lodge complaints about overcharging as well as refusal of services.

A two-judge constitutional bench of the SHC, headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon, heard the matter and directed the respondents to file comments in two weeks.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2026