Pakistan is finally taking steps to bring some order to its booming but unregulated ride-hailing sector.
A new bill introduced in the Senate by PPP’s Senator Sarmad Ali, titled the Provincial Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act 2025, proposes the first legal framework for online cab services operating in Islamabad. The law, if passed, will apply to platforms like InDrive and Uber, requiring them and their drivers to operate under formal oversight.
The bill makes it illegal to run or use any ride-hailing service without a certificate of registration and a special driving permit from a designated authority. Ride-hailing companies will need to register their platforms, and drivers will have to go through background checks, vehicle fitness tests, and basic training to stay on the road.
Under the proposed law, platforms must keep a real-time database of registered drivers and vehicles, conduct annual inspections, provide insurance coverage, and share ride history data with relevant authorities when required. The bill also mandates fare transparency, aiming to prevent passengers from being hit with hidden or inflated charges.
“This isn’t about red tape,” Senator Ali told reporters. “It’s about protecting drivers and riders in a sector that’s grown fast, but without clear rules. These standards will help professionalize the industry and make every trip safer.”
Ride-hailing apps have become a lifeline in cities where public transport remains unreliable or outright missing. They’ve provided flexible jobs to thousands and offered convenience to millions. But with no proper regulation in place, safety concerns , especially for women passengers, have only grown louder.
Cases of harassment inside cabs, drivers operating without valid licenses, and a lack of accountability have made headlines repeatedly. Civil society groups have long called for clearer rules, not only for passenger safety but also to protect gig workers who often face unpredictable working conditions with no real protections.
Analysts and digital rights advocates say the bill is a step in the right direction, but they’re watching closely to see how it will be implemented.
“Regulation is long overdue, but we also have to be careful not to make it so expensive or complicated that small operators and part-time drivers are pushed out,” said Farah Rizvi, a transport policy researcher. “We need a system that sets standards without killing opportunity.”
The Senate passed the bill without opposition. It now moves to the relevant standing committee, where lawmakers plan to consult with ride-hailing platforms, civil society groups, and women’s rights advocates before making it law.
If Islamabad sets the precedent, other provinces like Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are expected to follow. And if that happens, this could be the start of broader regulation for Pakistan’s gig economy, including food delivery apps and freelance platforms that have grown under similarly vague legal conditions.
For now, the bill makes one thing clear: the days of ride-hailing apps running without any rules might finally be over.
