Karachi based startup “ kareeb” has recently partnered with a leading telco Jazz to bring Pakistan’s much in demand auto rickshaws online.
Rickshaws are popular in Pakistan due to their affordability and compact size which makes them more efficient on our congested roads and streets.
Kareeb has leveraged this popularity to bridge the gap between commuters and rickshaw drivers. Kareeb aims to use the technology and rickshaws already plying on the roads to generate employment and solve transportation problems for the people to hail these rickshaws online by simply using a non-feature phone.
To avail the service of Kareeb, user simply dials 7555. The call is connected to the nearest rickshaw within a km instantly. User negotiates the fare and the driver comes to the specified location. Throughout the process of booking, user’s mobile number remains hidden to the driver to protect the privacy of the user.
The service currently operates in Karachi with plans to expand to other major cities of Pakistan in the near future.
The management of Kareeb is working on an ambitious initiative to bring a broader skilled workforce such as key-makers, painters, mechanics, carpenters, electricians, plumbers on its platform to promote an inclusive sharing economy and eventually create 5 million jobs by 2025.
“Skilled work force will go through strict and detailed background checks before onboarding onto Kareeb’s platform as security and safety of our customers is of prime importance to us ,“ says Abid Beli, CEO of kareeb.
In challenging economic times with roughly 64 per cent of Pakistan’s population under the age of 30 and absence of long term government policies to promote employment opportunities.
Kareeb can provide the much needed impetus from its platform towards creating employment for the work force and promoting secure, convenient and cost efficient services for its customers.
About Abid Beli (Entrepreneur & Social Activist)