LAHORE, Feb 1 (APP): Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday directed the officials concerned to resolve all matters of private cab service, Uber and Careem as per legal requirements.
Presiding over a meeting held here to review matters of the private cab services here, the chief minister said, if the people were getting good transport service then this model should be promoted.
He said a proper registration method should be implemented for the registration of operators of private taxi service.
Secretary Transport, CTO and officials of LTC also attended the meeting.
PITB Chairman and Chief Minister Adviser Dr. Omer Saif, talking to APP said that a number of private vehicles registered with the Motor Registering Authority (MRA) were providing services on commercial basis under Careem and Uber.
Both the companies were working neither on commercial nor private
basis, he added.
He said that both companies had been asked to submit their proposals and in this regard a meeting would also be held on February 2 (tomorrow) to discuss their proposals.
The Advisor said that these companies should be regulated
and taxed, adding that they must register as a formal business
under a taxation regime.
Dr Omer Saif said that such companies were treated
as “network service providers” in other countries including
Malaysia, Egypt, Indonesia and others.
A spokesman of Careem told APP that the company was
ready to work with the government on all levels regarding
laws and regulations to document. “We will see what type
of laws or rules we can help devise to regulate the
sharing economy”, he added.
He said they would work with regulators and policymakers
to ensure that people had easy access to safe, affordable
and efficient transportation option.
He said a fresh regulatory and taxation mechanism
should be evolved for dealing with them, adding that they
would discuss their regulatory proposals with the government’s
officials in upcoming meetings.
It may be mentioned here, the Chief Minister Punjab took
notice of imposing a ban on Uber and Careem and directed the
officials to resolve the matter within 15 days.
These taxi companies would continue their services during
this period.