It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Lets see whether it is affordable transportation mode for middle class in Lahore or not …

It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

By Osman Husain
Published: March 2, 2016

Tech in Asia
Publishing Partner

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PHOTO: AFP

Uber first hinted last year about its intentions to roll into Pakistan. And today it’s official – Uber has arrived in Pakistan.

“We’re extremely excited to be here, there’s huge potential in this market and people have welcomed us with open arms,” explains Loic Amado, international launcher at Uber.

**“Twenty per cent of all ecommerce transactions happen in Lahore, which is why we’re here first. We’re looking forward to filling a gap in the existing transportation network.”
**
The ride-hailing behemoth will focus on Lahore for now, but there are plans to unlock more cities in the near future. Karachi is an obvious target while Islamabad is also likely to be on the roadmap as a more affluent clientele awaits.

Pakistani entrepreneurs launch ‘Uber for rickshaws’

Loic claims there’s been overwhelming interest from the driver side as well, with thousands of applications. The company will be working with both private car owners as well as existing rent-a-car providers which will utilise their idle inventory.

All drivers shall be subjected to thorough background and verification checks, including car registration, police verification, and driving licenses. They’ll also have to attend a mandatory sexual harassment seminar.

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Uber-e1456936912861.png

“I often compare it to cities like Cairo where we’re generating 2,000 job opportunities a month. We can achieve that very soon in Lahore and the rest of Pakistan as well,” adds Loic.

While interest in Uber’s anticipated launch in Pakistan has been massive, there’s also a sense of nervousness due to incidents like the rape of a female passenger in India. Loic is quick to drive home the point that they’re assessing both passenger and driver security very seriously.

“We’re in conversation with local law enforcement agencies and are open to developing procedures, so that if something happens they can be involved immediately. We’ve developed something similar in India as well by working with local governments,” he affirms.
**

Cash payments**
In what is a first, Uber will be launching in Pakistan by accepting both cash and card payments. Cash is accepted for rides in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and India but this is the first time Uber will be accepting them from the outset. It’s a smart move considering the fact that few people use credit cards in the country and cash reigns supreme.

Uber also plans to integrate mobile payments and mobile wallets, but these haven’t been finalised yet.
Uber subsidiary fined $7.6m in California

Pricing will be extremely competitive. Loic says they’re aiming to shift people away from using tuk-tuks, the preferred mode of public transportation, to a “safer option.”

Base fares start at US$0.95, with each kilometer priced at US$0.13 and US$0.04 per minute for the time that the car is in use. This means a 10-kilometer ride will be priced at approximately US$2.60.

Lahore riders will only be offered UberGO, with UberBlack and UberLux arriving at a later stage. UberPool and UberEats may also be in the pipeline.

Uber’s primary rival in Pakistan is likely to be Dubai-headquartered Careem, which raised US$60 million last year and has been rivaling it in cities like Cairo, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi.
Unlike Uber, Careem accepts requests for rides through a phone hotline and also takes advance bookings.
Careem raises $60m, but is that enough to compete with Uber?

Loic says Uber will stick to its model of rides requested through the app only and for immediate departures. It’s trying to meet the globally-accepted standard of an ETA of five minutes.

News of Uber’s launch will be pleasing to residents of Lahore, but what is music to their ears is the announcement that all rides on the weekend are on the house. “The idea is to provide a completely new way of getting around,” says Loic.
*

The article originally appeared on Tech in Asia*

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Re: It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

lol, uber thrives in 1st world because of laws.

pakitaniyon ko ghussa agya to uber walay kaisay bachaingay wahan to sabko aag laga di jati hai lol

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Re: It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

^^ he known not to follow/bend laws in the USA as well.
This man sounds like he's out for world domination.

It will work in Pakistan. It'll be like those lawn sales, everyone with the smallest social standing must have one.
Bedh chaal.

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Good News: Safe UBER Taxi Service launched in Lahore

Hi,

Uber has launched it’s services in Lahore. they claim it to it be safe, inexpensive and comfortable rides in Lahore. you just have to download it’s app.

i’ve used their taxis in India…i found it to be excellent. their rates are cheaper and the drivers are usually courteous and knowledgeable about their cities.

i used in Allahabad where the rates were as follows. the best thing about them is that their cars are newer models, clean and are fully air conditioned. they do NOT blare songs of their choice.

-initial charges Rs. 50
-per kilometer charge Rs. 13 [Rs. 8 during off-peak hours (10am to 3 pm)]
-waiting charges Re. 1 per minute [Rs. 60 per hour]
-they go long distances as well. you will be charged for FULL (Rs. 3000] or Half Day [Rs.2000]. i used to hire them to take me to my village [38 kms away]
-they have mini, full size cars and SUV’s.

however, as far as safety is concerned for it’s female passengers, a woman was raped by the driver late at night in Delhi. the driver was arrested and is now facing trials.**

since the attack, there has been changes in the rules and now they are much safer.**

Click Here: Ride-hailing app giant Uber launches in Pakistan, prioritizes rider safety

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Re: It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

Uber Launches in Pakistan - India Real Time - WSJ

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Re: It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

Still not safe for females, I guess.

Tried for the first time yesterday. The car appeared to be taken out from wreckage. Full of dust all over the seats, broken from inside and out, messy with tools and dirty pieces of clothes spread around, no ac, the driver seemed rude, was charged higher side of the fare.

Wanted to book a different service on the way back but didnt have the app so to avoid delay and assuming that first bad experience might have been a rare case, booked again for return to see whether all the Uber rides were that dirty and uncomfortable.

So I received the driver's call that he's waiting outside on the road whereas I was at the entrance of the building from where I booked and would have to walk a long way to reach him. He said, he would drive to the entrance. After 5 minutes, I saw a car arriving. Saw the driver waving to me and pushing the car honk to get my attention.

I went & sat in the car putting all the bags I was holding on the seat. Glad to see the car was clean, ac on, the driver courteous. So he asked me to confirm the destination. I told him he had a wrong destination as I had booked for so and so. He said not to worry. There might be some error on the app so he would drop me at the correct destination.

5 mins into the ride, I received call from the same guy I talked to earlier asking where I was as he had arrived at the building entrance. I apologized & told him I had already been picked by another driver telling him to improve the booking process as I had only booked once but don't know how many drivers received and accepted my booking. Another 15 mins into the ride, my driver realised that he had not picked up the client that had booked him & I realised, I was sitting in a different cab service, not Uber. To add to my horror and amazement, I received a text message from that Uber driver that I had originally booked that went, "Apko mere sath jana chahiye tha bachi. Itna acha laga tha ap say bat krky" followed by all kinds of heart smilies.

The driver of my ride seemed totally puzzled on the other hand. He was trying to explain the misunderstanding to the actual client he did not pick but was charged for on her credit card.

He kept mumbling, something like this had never happened to him. For me, the pleasant surprise came in the end when the driver told me the ride fare which was lower than the minimum estimate I got both times from Uber app at the time of booking.

Who knows what that second Uber driver was up to considering all those female abduction / harrassment news. Incidents like these occure rarely but leave alot to be thankful for.

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Re: It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

Wow! I am shocked. I didn't expect Uber to be so unprofessional.
Was the 2nd driver from Careeem?
I have heard that Careem drivers are more courteous and women feel safer in Careem vehicles.

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Re: It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

Krash I apologize I cannot reveal the name of the other service publicly as you know online forums such as these have their share of similar trolls as that Uber driver & I dont feel safe.

And yes I was shocked too. Uber ride was not only dirty, messy, uncomfortable & relatively expensive but the drivers are rude and unprofessional too. This morning I had another text from him that went, "Jhooty". For sure, he tried to check from Uber system the exact location where the other Uber driver dropped me but Uber system obviously had no info on that as I mistakenly rode other service.

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Re: It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

I don't know in which city Mystique used Uber's services, but I have used that in Karachi during last two months (around 4-6 times) and each time, the car was clean and drivers were courteous. They drivers always reached on time and the cost they charged was even less than rikshaw. I do have my own car, but I avoided driving to crowded areas during ramadan because of parking issues. I would use their services any day, if I don't feel like driving.

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Re: It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

I have taken a screenshot of his messages. Intended to lodge a complaint with Uber management but then thought as long as I am safe & learned a lesson to never book Uber again, do not want to take up additional headache. Although I regret not taking the pictures of the first car that was so dirty and broken as if came out of some dirty old junk yard for broken cars. Dusty seats (white dust was quite visible), handles to close windows were broken, car body from the out (backside) was broken and car exterior of car were also dirty (not washed), dirty pieces of clothes were lying at the backseat and the rear window space & there were some more tools were lying on the backseat and rear window space. My memory cant recollect exactly what tools but similar to those usually used in car maintenance. That would have been good evidence of what an Uber ride experience was like.

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Re: It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

If you don't complain to the management, it will happen again to other ladies - and maybe even you again.

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Re: It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

TheRealDeal

I still got no stamina & patience to deal with another mafia. Who knows local Uber may turn out to be another bunch of thugs conducting shady business here just like so many other local or int'l, small & big, private, government or semi-govt mafias doing biz. You have to have a mafia yourself to effectively deal with another mafia so I would prefer to avoid.

You should spread the word to your loved ones to beware using these cab services or if possible, to avoid completely (this includes any cabs/rickshaws). Best is to have a gaurdian drive you to anywhere locally.

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Re: It’s official: Uber launches in Pakistan

You asked me about Careem. Tried it. The driver was a crazy. Insanely offensive. Already lodged a complaint because experience was much worse than Uber. Hopefully they will respond. If not then Careem another bunch of crazy thugs just worse.