Japanese motor brands have dominated the Pakistani highways and roads for decades but now a Pakistani automobile company has started exporting traditional rickshaws to the quality conscious market of Japan.
In an encouraging sign for the Pakistani budding automobile sector, these tastefully decorated colorful three-wheelers are now found plying on the roads of Tokyo.
“Japan also imports Indian rickshaws but these are not allowed to ply on the capital roads. It is Pakistani rickshaws allowed to move on the roads of this cosmopolitan city,” says jubilant Muhammad Ali Hameed, the marketing manager of the Sazgar Autos.
Hameed’s company has emerged as a trailblazer, introducing many firsts in Pakistan’s nascent three-wheeler industry.
Pakistan used to import all the three-wheelers before the turn of the 20th century. But in the early years of 21st century, dozens of rickshaw and motorcycle manufacturing firms mushroomed in this South Asian country .
The production of locally manufactured rickshaws came as a big relief for the workforce as they could afford the cost of the three wheelers that are a common mode of transportation on the narrow and crowded streets of towns and cities.
For years, Pakistan has been exporting rickshaws to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and some African countries for several years but the export to Japan is a recent phenomenon.
The rickshaws’ small size makes them perfect for commuting in the narrow streets of Japanese cities especially Tokyo and are used by citizen’s there for travelling short distances.
“Our rickshaws are a fit Japan’s high road safety standards; We are planning to make exports to other East Asian nations,” says Ali Hameed.
The rickshaws fitted with 4 stroke CNG fired engines have a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour.
Pakistan has been importing automobiles from Japan and Toyota, Honda, Suzuki have become household names in the country. But now it is the turn of Pakistani rickshaw to become a household name in Japan.
Currently, over 50 automobile factories produce over 150,000 rickshaws in Pakistan but 90 percent of the market is held by just 7 companies.
Of these 4 are based in Lahore, 2 in Karachi and one in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. These companies make a total export of just 2000 units, mainly to less quality conscious countries of Africa.
“We are planning to diversify the export destinations with more focus on the developed nations. What we need is the support from the government,” Ali Hameed says.
