Careem, Uber drivers protest outside SC against low fares, excessive challans

Scores of Uber and Careem drivers on Thursday held a protest outside the Supreme Court registry in Lahore against the "excessive challan tickets" reportedly issued to them and demanded of the ride-hailing companies to "increase their per-kilometre fares".

The protesters accused the government of treating them unfairly, urging them to "end issuing excessive challan tickets to Careem and Uber drivers".

Hussain Butt, the driver leading the protests, complained that "Uber and Careem are doing us wrong... they should increase the per kilometre rates."

Furthermore, they urged the two companies to bring back their loan schemes through which the drivers were able to lease their cars. "The discontinuation of loan scheme is the economic murder of the youth," they claimed.

When enquired about the alleged issuance of excessive challans by the government to its drivers, an Uber spokesperson said: "The government has not communicated with Uber regarding the matter of issuing commercial route permits for its drivers.

"Uber is a law-abiding company and will act accordingly once any such legislation is passed."