Old traditional ‘tonga’ replaces modern transport modes in Pakistan

Islamabad: As ‘Tongas’ have become a traditional feature of weddings and other social functions in Pakistan, the horse-drawn, wooden carriage locally known as ‘tonga’ replaced with modern transport modes.

A report aired by a private news channel said, with the advent of the auto vehicles, the horse-drawn carriage began to lose its utility in region. ‘Tongas were a popular mode of transportation because they were fun to ride in and were usually cheaper to hire than a taxi or rickshaw.

However, in Pakistan, ‘tongas’ are mainly found in the older parts of cities and towns, and are becoming less popular for utilitarian travel and more popular for pleasure. A 60 years old ‘tonga’ owner Nadeem Khan said, ‘I was associated with the ‘tonga’ profession for the last 40 years and I agree that the arrival of auto-rickshaws and other modern vehicles has pushed the horse-drawn carriage to the margins.

He said now only one or two ‘tongas’ can be seen in cities. Moreover, he complains traffic policemen do not let them ride their ‘tongas’ on main roads, forcing them to be confined to service lanes.

Another old ‘tangay wala’ says, ‘I have been in this profession for the past 30 years and he inherited the skill from his forefathers’. He claims his profession was once a flourishing one in the metropolitan because of the widespread use of ‘tongas’, which naturally required frequent repairs due to their widespread use.

A 35-year old person said in past he always prefers to travel in the horse-drawn carriage because it is more comfortable than an auto rickshaw or besides also being easier on the pocket.

“The sound of the horse’s footsteps cannot be described in words. When you sit in a ‘tonga’, you imagine yourself as a member of the royal family,” he added. With the great rush of motorists, another citizen says it would be impossible to manage vehicular traffic if ‘tongas’ are allowed to ply the main roads.

“The best rides have become rarer with the changing world. “May be the cars and rickshaws have replaced ‘tongas’ in many parts of the country but it is still the ‘tonga’ or horse cart I love to travel.

‘The Heart of Punjab’ was famous for ‘tonga’, but now due to the heavy traffic, ‘tongas’ are not allowed to be used on the main roads. “It’s good that the village side area still nurturing horse-drawn carriage or tongas,” a citizen Muhammad Waqas said.