(Picture on left by go2net; picture on right by peterhessel; both on Flickr.com)
Following on yesterday’s Picture of the Day, since people had asked, this is what a ‘Qingqi’ looks like by the time it gets to Pakistan.
My thanks to Altamash Mir for the information on how it is the product of a joint venture between Jinan Qingqi of China and Suzuki of Japan. It is like a Vespa, but more of a motorcycle than a scooter. More powerful and less costly. By the time Pakistani ingenuity has its way with the machine, it transforms itself into a six-seater auto-rickshaw-like-thing that is called Qingqi by most people, rather than a rickshaw (and you can always squeeze more, because ‘dil baRRa hoona chahiaye’).
These are found in large and small cities across Pakistan now, but have become particularly prevalent in small towns and secondary cities. The reason for its runaway success is that you do not need to find as many passengers as you do for a ‘wagon’ or a ‘Suzuki dabba‘ but you can charge by the individual passenger rather than for the full ride (as you would for a Taxi or a Rickshaw ride). So, what’s not to like. Unlike the scheme about introducing the London Taxi to Pakistan, the economic logic in this case is impeccable.
ur welcome….my knowledge of the Qingqi limits me to what google tells me…and lacks the soul and body of the Qingqi being used in Pakistan…I personally havent been to Pakistan since 99, but am planning to visit this year Inshallah. So I guess I’ll see some Qingqis…
Speaking of Qingqi…how do you pronounce it?
Seems like the pentium 5 in rickshaw world
[…] I just thought this picture screamed out ‘Pakistaniat’ in all sorts of ways. Note also the Qingqi in the background. […]
[…] In the end he left us in a hurry running after another car. We looked at the receipt which said ‘Toll Tax Bura Jungle, Rohtas Mohal Road’, Contractor: Ch. Mohd Arif Warraich. I stored that receipt away safely for entertainment later. Entertainment because it listed tolls for various vehicle types which included Buses/Coasters, Trucks/Oil Tankers, Wagon/Pickup/Hiace/Hilux/Carry, Private Vehicle and then Baldosar which I am assuming is referring to a bulldozer followed by Suzuki Jeep/Suzuki Van and finally Raksha/Qinggi (a Chinese contraption and a road hazard frequenting Punjab roads these days). Ch. Sahab made sure all categories, makes and models were duly listed. […]
shbn says:
Speaking of Qingqi…how do you pronounce it?
Something like “Chingchee”
It means literally “light ride”