KARACHI, Dec 7: In compliance with court orders and subsequent instructions of the governor to withdraw polluting auto-rickshaws from the city, transporters have developed a new version of a four-stroke rickshaw which, they claim, does not emit smoke or create noise pollution.

President of the Karachi Taxi, Motor Rickshaw and Yellow Cab Owners Association Hafiz Abdul Haq has urged the government to give approval to the new version.

In a press release issued here on Friday, he said the association had already sent the proposal with the specification of the new rickshaw to the secretary transport.

He recalled that Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad had allowed transporters to convert the two-stroke rickshaws till 2010, adding that the local version of four-stroke rickshaws was tested by engineers and the DIG concerned who found them perfect. However, he regretted, the summary for its approval was pending action in the office of the provincial minister for transport.

Mr Haq urged the caretaker minister for transport to accord his approval to the project at the earliest.—PPI