Back to the beginning

“Bandar road se keemari, seedhi chali hai ghora gari,baboo hojana footpath pe ,” Ahmed Rushdis hit song of the 60s gave a classic glimpse of Pakistan’s largest city Karachi, attracting people from all over the country. Ghora gari or victorias were one of the tourists’ attractions in Karachi, just like the double-deckers in London. It was indeed the best means of having a look at all the landmarks in the metropolis like Tower, Clifton beach, Quaid’s mausoleum, the famous Saddar market area, etc.

Karachiites love to live in the past. Those who were not born until the sixties are made to sit in the time machine by their parents or grandparents to see the good Karachi. Trams, circular railway, victoria, washing of streets in the morning, and late night cafes are the tales that we all hear! prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Public transport networks can be wonderful and efficient things. In many parts of the world and mega cities like Karachi, they are the quickest and cheapest way to get around; most networks now operate, in some capacity, at least, around the clock. In Pakistan’s commercial hub, though, they unfortunately come with a downside.

Even political parties that have ruled over Sindh or are ruling have all made us believe in the rhetoric about Mass Transit System and revival of the circular railway.

From electioneering to the budget speech of every year, Karachiites are made to believe that transport problems of the mega city will be resolved by launching new projects. In a city that almost houses a population of more than 20 million, means of public transport are one of the biggest issue that remains unresolved. This is indeed one city where development in public transport has been in the reverse direction.

The Sind government in its last budget speech once again took full cognizance of Karachi problems, especially public transport. In connection to this, it announced two Bus Rapid Transit projects. The yellow line which involves public private partnership, whereas Rs3 billion had been kept in annual development programme for the green line. Karachi Circular Revival project at an estimated cost of Rs2 billion was also on the cards. Sindh’s chief minister is often heard talking about the orange, yellow, green, and blue line projects. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also announced the metro bus project for Karachi. However, what is seen on the busy roads of Karachi is totally in contrast to these tall claims.

The busy roads of Karachi have now been thronged by rickshaw modernisation. From two strokes to three, chinqchi to rickshaw bus, are the new additions in the name of public transport. In a city ranked second largest in the world in terms of population within city limits, one imagines at least a decent form of public transport if not sky trains, subways as they for sure are a luxury for the poor citizens of the metropolitan, Karachi. Commuting in buses like W11, 5C and G5, the residents of this city fantasised that soon they will at least be given the famous Metro Bus Service of Lahore. Instead, the population was introduced with a transport service seen in rural Sind known as “chinqchi”. No one knows yet who introduced this half rickshaw half motorcycle, reminding of Mumtaz Begum of the Gandhi Garden.

However, they soon became the most common way of commuting in Karachi. Illegal chinqchi stands are found on all the main arteries. These chinqchis are all operating illegally as they have yet no provision of registration under the law or any route permit. The drivers of these chinqchis are young lads most of them without a driver license. The half-body of the motorbike used in the chinqchis are usually of the stolen ones. Although there is not any association of chinqchis as there is of buses, still there are an approximate forty thousand chinqchis operating. Commuters find this means of transport cost effective, easy and less troublesome. With the growing business of chinqchis, business of the existing buses and two and three stroke rickshaw was affected to a great deal.

Therefore, the rickshaw creators decided to introduce something new in the market. The new rickshaw-cum-bus is a 6, 8 and 12 seater, with a driver and a conductor. These too are operating under their own created law. Throughout the world, two and three wheelers are considered as death bikes, but in Karachi there is no one to control this mess and more than 50,000 rickshaws are currently the means of public transport.

It is indeed the failure of our transport minister in controlling the spread of illegal public transport and for not bringing the transit projects to reality. One thing is for sure, that no business can flourish without the backing from the power corridors. Unfortunately, the political parties in Karachi are all responsible for this public transport mess. On the basis of ethnicity, some support the chinqchi, some rickshaw and some buses. It is the duty of the provincial government to find out who all are involved in taking kickbacks from chinqchi and rickshaw buses. By allocating funds every year in the name of public transport projects, the government cannot brush off its responsibility. It’s high time that Karachiites get rid of this rural mode of transportation or the Sind government talking about the colorful yellow, blue, orange lines.

Had Ahmed Rushdi been alive the remake would be “Bandar road se keemari, chali hai chingchi gari, baboo hojana…..

The writer is a broadcast journalist