Action against ridesharing companies

That the authorities in Punjab and Sindh are unwilling to tolerate a good public service unless they can take credit for it or control it is obvious from the way they took thoughtless action against the popular ridesharing services provide by companies like Uber and Careem. While the Sindh government moved against these companies, saying they should be under the "ambit of law" the other day, the Punjab Transport Authority declared the service illegal, telling traffic police and transport authorities to "initiate a prompt" legal action against them. In so doing, it cited concerns such as "security threat" to users and loss of revenue to the government, and further that "drivers of these vehicles are not cleared by the security authorities." These are lame excuses considering that ridesharing services have gained popularity not only because of their low-priced rates but also because they are safe. The technology companies managing the ridesharing services connect the users through mobile apps with their registered private car owners/drivers. The identity of both the drivers and users is known, and hence passenger safety ensured. They are more reliable than the rickshaw and taxi drivers who are not required to obtain security clearance, either.
Ridesharing is in great demand in advanced countries, and experts reckon it will be the preferred mode of transportation world over in the times to come. It is all the more important in a country like Pakistan where public transport is far short of the requirement. The buses in big cities like Karachi and Lahore are always overcrowded, and the rickshaws and taxis run without meters, charging exorbitant fares from the passengers. The government takes pride in constructing pricey new transportation projects and subsidising fares. But these projects meet the needs of only a small section of the population. They therefore should encourage rather than discourage the private sector for offering a parallel service.
Besides, these enterprises provide investment and employment opportunities to thousands of people, also generating revenue for the government. Just one company is promising to create 100,000 jobs by the end of the next year. Indeed, they need to abide by the relevant rules and work with regulatory authorities for the streamlining of their affairs. By the same token, the authorities must not create unnecessary hurdles. The provincial governments must give due consideration to public interest in dealing with ridesharing service providers so that the people have access to an affordable and efficient transportation facility.