Yesterday was an important day for electric and conventional two and three-wheelers in Punjab as the caretaker government made some significant announcements for them. Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced 10,000 electric bikes for university students through the Bank of Punjab (BOP), 2,000 bikes for women, 2,000 for handicaps, and 2,000 interest-free e-rickshaws. Furthermore, the government handed over the first-ever e-rickshaw manufacturing license to Sazgar Engineering. Amongst all that, the government announced a major development for the three-wheeler rickshaws, locally known as Qingqi rickshaws.

For a recap, the government banned these 3-wheelers in December, 2023. Caretaker Punjab Minister for Transport Ibrahim Hassan Murad announced the government’s decision to ban Qingqi rickshaws, citing illegal manufacturing and the need for regulation. The move is part of a larger plan to eliminate unapproved rickshaws, with a 30-day warning issued initially.

The minister emphasized initiating a crackdown against those producing illegal motorcycles and loader rickshaws. The focus is on unapproved rickshaws, with a future ban on local manufacturing and the regularization of rickshaw manufacturing companies.

New Announcement 

Now, the government has announced initiating the registration of retrofitted three-wheelers. “We are going to initiate the Qingqi Rickshaw Body Standard Program under the transport department’s efforts to register Qingqi rickshaws—a task previously deemed impossible,” Naqvi said.

Hence, a good news for the owners and drivers of these vehicles is that the lower middle-class section of society runs them, and thousands are linked to them in the city. Registering these three-wheelers will counter underage driving, increase manufacturing standards, and regularize their numbers on the roads because these factors cause serious hazards for other commuters.

The registration will ensure the employment of these drivers with a regular checkup and legal protection, resolving a number of issues for these drivers. Furthermore, registration will bring its manufacturing industry into the tax net, another win for the government. 

What do you think about the registration of Qinqchi rickshaws? Please tell us in the comments section.