QUETTA: Traders in Quetta have strongly opposed the recent ban on Qingqi (Zaranj) rickshaws, warning that it could lead to widespread unemployment and hurt the city’s economy. Abdul Rahim Kakar, President of Central Anjuman Tajran Balochistan, said that over 10,000 people directly rely on these rickshaws for their livelihoods.
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Addressing a press conference at the Quetta Press Club, Kakar emphasized the importance of Qingqi rickshaws in transporting goods from warehouses on the city outskirts to shops within Quetta. He noted that after the removal of donkey carts, Suzuki vehicle owners increased transport fares, making Qingqi rickshaws a vital and affordable alternative for traders.
Kakar warned that the ban and seizure of Qingqi rickshaws had put thousands of families at risk of losing their income. “Instead of creating new employment opportunities, the administration is pushing people towards joblessness,” he said, urging the government to consider the economic consequences of the ban.
The traders’ association demanded that the provincial authorities legalize Qingqi rickshaws by issuing number plates and route permits after reasonable taxation, as is done in other provinces. Kakar called on Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and relevant officials to immediately lift the ban and return the confiscated vehicles.
He added that if the government does not reverse its decision, the Central Anjuman Tajran Balochistan would organize a protest campaign and hold the administration accountable for any resulting social or economic impact.
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The association stressed that Qingqi rickshaws not only provide fast and cost-effective goods transport but also sustain thousands of families, making them a crucial part of Quetta’s commercial ecosystem.