Legally approved Qingqi rickshaws: SC orders provinces to ensure standards

The Supreme Court directed all transport authorities of four provinces to ensure plying of only those Qingqi Rickshaws which are constructed and manufactured by duly registered and authorized constructors and manufacturers, according to the legally approved design, specifications and standards.
Association for the Welfare of Owner & Staff of Qingqi (Chingchi) Rickshaw, All Karachi Qingqi Rickshaw Welfare Association, through its Finance Secretary, Karachi had challenged the Sindh High Court judgment dated August 05, 2015.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Umar Atta Bandial after hearing the arguments of all the parties had reserved the judgment on 29-03-2017, which was announced a day ago (March 22, 2018).
The court ordered that all such Qingqi Rickshaws shall obtain certificate of fitness so also certificate of road worthiness from the concerned authorities which shall be displayed on each of the Qingqi Rickshaws prior to their plying on the roads.
The judgment also said all such Qingqi Rickshaws shall be duly registered with the relevant Excise & Taxation Department and their registration number shall be displaced on it.
The court directed that the approved rate of charges/fare for specified routes shall be displayed on all such Qingqi Rickshaws, prior to their plying on such routes; and the seating capacity of Qingqi Rickshaws, allowed to be plied on roads, shall not be more than four passengers excluding its driver.
The judgment said the Qingqi Rickshaw drivers shall have valid driving license while driving Qingqi Rickshaws; and all four provinces shall ensure that the conditions are fulfilled in every respect and they continue to do so for permitting plying of Qingqi Rickshaws on the roads.
The court ordered that in case, any of the Qingqi Rickshaw is found to be plying on roads without fulfilling the above conditions, the officials of the relevant department shall be proceeded against not only departmentally but also on criminal side.