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Recent conditions of private cab drivers in Pakistan shows and proves that the country does not deserve a perk such as Careem and Uber. Ever since these private cab companies gripped their feet in the country, rickshaw and taxi drivers have had severe competition, hurting their business and dominance in public transport.
The other day, another Careem Captain in Karachi became subject to violence when customers lashed out on him for following company rules. The Careem driver, who was on his routine, got a request on his phone and moved to collect the customer from thereon.
As soon as the driver reached the designated location, he responded to the customer’s call and told him he had arrived. The customer, however, asked him to move a little ahead, which the Captain obliged too. After reaching the desired location of the customer, the driver called him again, asking him to come soon.
However, as per Careem rules, a driver, who waits more than 10 minutes for a customer, is fully authorized to cancel the ride if he feels so. Thus, the Captain called the ride and was going to inform the customer, which is when 2 people arrived from behind. The customers sat in the car and asked the Captain to move towards Tariq Road. At this, the Captain informed them that he had already cancelled their ride and they could find another car.
As per the Captain, one of the passengers was drunk, and after being told off, got extremely furious. The passenger told the Captain that he had no choice but to go with him, that even his father would take them to Tariq Road. After the Captain denounced them again, the customers started thrashing him inside the car first, then on the street.
Beating him continuously, the customers wounded the Captain, leaving him in a pool of blood, which pictures and videos show clearly. The Captain, in his video statement, clearly tells that even after he was beaten by so badly, he did not even attack the customers once. The Captain even reiterated that Careem needs to provide safety or relief to Captains in such cases, or they should mend their policies, because in a place like Pakistan, you never know who you’re going to be paired against.
In the last month, two Careem and one Uber driver have been murdered in the country on different grounds. The safety and lives of these drivers should mean a lot to the companies which are earning handsomely at their behest.
