KARACHI, June 22: The Karachi Taxi, Rickshaw and Yellow Cab Association has opposed the government plan of introducing new CNG-fitted rickshaws and termed it a completely failed scheme.

Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Friday, the association leaders, Hafeezul Haq, Sarfraz Tanoli, Sher Alam, Nisar Ahmed and others, said that the small vehicles (rickshaws) were not responsible for pollution as most vehicles plying on city roads were outdated and polluting the atmosphere.

They said the new CNG-fitted rickshaws were not durable. Besides, they said, the CNG-fitted rickshaws were so weak that drivers would have to spend on their repairs whatever profit they would collect during the whole day service.

The leaders said that the drivers would not discard their two-stroke auto-rickshaws. However, they said, they would modify them into four-stroke rickshaws. In this regard, they said the governor would be taken into confidence.

“We have to spend at least Rs70,000 on modification of per rickshaw, which is not affordable for us,” they said and demanded financial support.

They also suggested that duty-free Italy-made rickshaws, which would be more suitable both quality-wise and for the environment, should be allowed to replace the existing ones.