- Fake taxis are on the rise in Islamabad, leading to looting incidents and resentment from registered taxi drivers
A large number of fake taxis have begun plying the city’s streets, leading to looting incidents by fake cabbies and complaints from licensed taxi drivers.
According to reports, passengers who use these unregistered vehicles often get looted.
These fake taxis are largely the result of the financial crunch being experienced by the population: more and more people are placing private vehicles on the roads for taxi services to supplement their incomes.
Most of these vehicles belong to government servants who had purchased cars on lease from commercial banks, and are now compelled to run them as taxis to raise funds for paying the month premium.
One particular fake taxi driver presented an interesting case; he informed that the fake taxi he drove was his own vehicle, and he had avoided painting it yellow so as not to incur his relatives and neighbours’ disapproval. “Taxi driving is not considered a prestigious profession, so I have concealed my second job from my family and friends. I am an educated man, and a clerk by day, but financial hardship has forced me to take up taxi driving after office hours,” he explained.
He added that he had successfully evaded violation tickets from the traffic police by driver his taxi watchfully.
However, registered taxi drivers voiced strong opposition to the fake taxi cabs in the city.
A registered taxi driver Asif Ali said that fake taxi drivers were earning on the roads without paying anything to the authorities. He maintained that this discriminated against registered cab drivers.
Further, it was learnt that people, particularly women avoid private taxi cabs for safety reasons.
Bushra Irum at Abpara Market said that people usually took the fake taxi cars only when registered taxis were unavailable or if they were offering a discounted fare. “People use these taxis in the day freely, but avoid them at night given the unstable law and order situation,” she informed. A Traffic Police official said that unregistered taxi drivers were liable to fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. Further, their vehicles could also be impounded.
He added that the traffic personnel had acted against many unlicensed taxis drivers and seized their vehicles. He warned the public against using fake cabs to protect their property and personal safety.