LAHORE: Punjab Information and Technology (IT) Board Chairman Umar Saif has said that Uber, Careem, A-One and other online transport services are not yet held illegal as the government is reviewing the matter.
Saif has said that Punjab Transport Authority’s notification was an internal memo and was released to the public before due time. Punjab Cabinet Member’s statement implies that the crackdown on android-taxi services is not yet official and there are matters to be reviewed.
However, the board chairman did say that the provincial authority wants to impose taxes on foreign companies instead of registering them as non-regulated services.
He said that legislation framework to tax such companies would model on those maintained in Malaysia, Egypt and Indonesia. In these three countries, online taxi services are registered as network service providers.
Saif admitted that Pakistan’s transport structure was not up to the mark and mobile-based transport facilities mean a great deal in this regard. Besides, removing burden off of the roads, taxi services create employment opportunities, he said.
The Chairman of Punjab IT Board further said that the government wants to come up with a policy that adds to the growing economy as well as help people get jobs.
