A major protest by rickshaw drivers brought traffic to a standstill in central Karachi. Demonstrators blocked key roads. The routes include Fawwara Chowk, near the Governor’s House, and roads to the Karachi Press Club, Shaheen Complex, and Shahrah e Faisal.
The drivers are protesting against two main issues. The imposition of heavy fines of Rs. 5,000 by the traffic police and the recent ban on rickshaws operating on 11 major city roads.
The restriction, by the Karachi Commissioner, bans both one plus two and one plus four rickshaws from key routes including Shahrah e Faisal, Stadium Road, and Abdullah Haroon Road until June 14, 2025.
The protesters caused severe disruptions, with long queues of vehicles stretching across multiple neighborhoods. Leaders vowed to continue their action until their demands were met, claiming that the new restrictions are destroying their livelihoods.
Commuters are facing hour long delays, with many forced to abandon their vehicles and continue on foot. Authorities are yet to issue an official response to the protest, leaving the city’s already strained traffic management system struggling.
The standoff highlights growing tensions between Karachi’s transport regulators and the city’s large rickshaw driver community, which plays a vital role in the city’s public transportation network.