Tag: uber

  • Uber has shut down its service in Lahore

    Uber has shut down its service in Lahore

    Online ride-sharing service Uber has shut down its operations in Lahore almost a year and a half after shutting down its services in five major cities in Pakistan.

    The company has sent an email to its customers to inform them of its sudden decision, which was announced without any prior warning.

    The ride-sharing company did not reveal the reasons for its sudden decision to pull out of Lahore. However, Uber is offering a Careem discount as part of the compensation. Customers can enter the code LHR50 to get 50 percent off their next five rides on Cream.

    Uber has sent an email to its customers in Lahore, saying, “We’ve made the decision to cease operating the Uber app in Pakistan. Our subsidiary brand Careem will continue to operate, with the Careem app offering ride-hailing services across Pakistan.”

    In 2022, Uber had stopped its services in five major cities in Pakistan including Islamabad and Karachi.

  • Netherlands fines Uber over data protection

    Netherlands fines Uber over data protection

    Dutch regulators said Wednesday they are imposing a 10 million euro ($10.8 million) fine on ride-hailing app Uber for lack of transparency in how it treats the personal data of its drivers.

    The Dutch Data Protection Authority said it imposed the fine after a group of 170 French drivers complained to a French human rights organisation.

    The complaint was handled in the Netherlands because it is where Uber has it European headquarters.

    “The DPA found that Uber had made it unnecessarily complicated for drivers to submit requests to view or receive copies of their personal data,” the authority said in a statement.

    DPA said the process for drivers to request access to their data “was located deep within the app and spread across various menus.”

    “In addition, they did not specify in their privacy terms and conditions how long Uber retains its drivers’ personal data or which specific security measures it takes when sending this information to entities in countries outside the European Economic Area,” it said.

    Uber has taken steps to improve the situation and has appealed the decision, the statement said.

  • Uber ceases operations in 5 Pakistani cities

    Uber ceases operations in 5 Pakistani cities

    According to a statement released by Uber on Tuesday, it has stopped operating in Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar, and Islamabad.

    A statement on the company’s website says, “Uber is dedicated to Pakistan. We will continue to serve these five cities via our subsidiary brand Careem and continue to run the Uber app in Lahore.”

    Uber will keep providing its services in Lahore while also introducing new products to “help earners through these challenging times.”

    It declared that it would inform its customers and business partners in the five locations of how to use and seamlessly switch to Careem.

    “When we acquired Careem, it was always our belief that the two companies could come together to complement each other’s strengths and better serve the region through tailored experiences,” the statement added.

    According to Dawn, the company said it was aware this was a “difficult time” for its teams, which had “worked incredibly hard to build this business over the past few years”.

    “We greatly appreciate everyone’s contributions and our priority is to minimise the impact on our employees, drivers, riders, and Hero partners who use the Uber app during this change in Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan and Peshawar,” the statement reads.

    Uber finalised the $3.1 billion acquisition of rival Careem in 2020. At the time, it was said that Careem and Uber will continue to operate as distinct businesses and provide their own regional services.

    By the time the purchase was completed, Uber had acquired Careem’s mobility, delivery, and payments operations throughout the larger Middle East, including its key markets in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

  • Bykea expands to car-hailing service

    Bykea expands to car-hailing service

    The bike taxi and logistics company BYKEA has recently launched its car-hailing service. The service has only been made available by Bykea in Karachi and Islamabad so far, but it will likely be expanded in the coming months.

    The launch of the new service was confirmed by the company through a social media post.
    “Hum ho gaye hain 2 se 4,” tweeted BYKEA’s official account.

    https://twitter.com/bykeapk/status/1563111486989299712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1563111486989299712%7Ctwgr%5E14b12e65edff4173732ad6b26f8eaa4238d042c0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthecurrent.pk%2F%3Fp%3D194223

    Earlier this month, the company hinted that it will start offering a car-hailing service. However, it did not publicly announce its plans or inform its regular users. A tweet from its official account suggested that the company is launching a car-hailing service.

  • BYKEA hints at launching a car-hailing service

    BYKEA hints at launching a car-hailing service

    The bike taxi and logistics company BYKEA has recently hinted that it will start offering a car-hailing service. Although the company has not publicly announced its plans or informed its regular users, a recent tweet from its official account suggests what it may be up to in the next weeks or months.

    Since BYKEA offers slightly lower costs than its competitors, such as Uber and Careem, it has experienced tremendous growth and popularity among everyday commuters. However, given that petrol prices are so high and that people would rather take inexpensive transportation than spend money on a car, it does not seem like the ideal time to roll out such a service.

    https://twitter.com/bykeapk/status/1561712052577734658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1561712052577734658%7Ctwgr%5Edd9180fcae0de4b4a46012b47b2b13a878212574%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpropakistani.pk%2F2022%2F08%2F22%2Fbykea-to-launch-a-car-hailing-service-soon%2F

    Although it is too early to speculate about BYKEA’s plans, but it is apparent that the ride-hailing company is growing and wants to expand its operations in the country. Considering its latest tweet, “hum 2 se 4 honay walay hain,” makes it obvious that the company is actively formulating a significant strategy.

  • Pakistani startup Dastgyr raises $37 million in series A round

    Pakistani startup Dastgyr raises $37 million in series A round

    Dastgyr Technologies Pvt. has raised $37 million in Pakistan’s largest-ever Series A round. The company seeks to build an e-commerce platform for emerging economies comparable to Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

    The funding was spearheaded by Veon Ltd.’s venture arm, which put up about 40 per cent of the money. Zinal Growth Fund, DEG, Khwarizmi Ventures, Oman Technology Fund, Cedar Mundi Ventures, Reflect Ventures, Century Oak Capital, Haitou Global, GoingVC, Astir Ventures, K3 Ventures, Chandaria Capital, SOSV, Edgebrook Partners, and EquiTie were among the others who contributed, according to Bloomberg.

    Veon’s evolution outside traditional telecom services continues with this round. In Pakistan, it has asked for a licence to operate as a digital bank.

    Pakistan’s economy is mostly centred on cash, but innovators are working to change that. Dastgyr is a one-stop platform that connects retailers like grocery stores with different suppliers including Nestle SA and Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc. Currently, most conventional retailers meet 100 vendors per week or physically peruse different markets to stock their shelves.

    Veon Ventures’ Chief Executive, Mohammad Khairil Abdullah, said, “As part of Veon’s transformation into a digital operator that delivers a growing range of services to our customers we are investing in leading digital companies like Dastgyr in the countries where we operate. These investments are the building blocks of the digital ecosystem that will enable us to deliver on our strategy”.

    “Pakistan’s start-up ecosystem is at a critical juncture and only startups focused on addressing key challenges and adopting localized solutions will survive and thrive,” added Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz.

    “This investment highlights VEON’s commitment to scaling up Pakistan’s digital economy and provides Dastgyr with a platform to build synergies with Jazz’s subscriber base of around 75 million and with JazzCash, further integrating the startup into Pakistan’s fintech ecosystem”.

    Zohaib Ali, a co-founder of Dastgyr, stated that the company is dedicated to “working persistently toward our ambition of developing an Alibaba for emerging countries worldwide.”

    Another co-founder, Muhammad Owais, stated that the company aspires to become a unicorn in the next years. He stated that the company is now growing into new business-to-business areas such as cement, steel, and other construction materials, as well as looking into the electronics, pharmaceutical, and other retail industries.

    Dastgyr, which has been in use for less than two years, is used by roughly 100,000 stores in five cities. It attempts to save money by connecting buyers and sellers through a digital platform instead of purchasing and storing everything in physical warehouses.

    Within this year, it plans to expand into 15 additional markets in Pakistan and expand internationally.

  • Jemima Goldsmith opens up on being stalked by a cab driver

    Jemima Goldsmith has opened up on being stalked and harassed by a cab driver.

    Responding to a tweet by British author Jojo Moyes about ingrained fear of women, Jemima revealed that she feels scared driving in a cab because she was stalked by a cab driver for almost two years.

    “For those lucky enough to be able to afford an Uber or cab when too scared to walk – that’s not always safe either,” wrote Jemima, adding: “I had a cab driver stalker who harassed me for two years.”

    “How many times have you felt scared with a male driver?” she questioned.

    Jemmia also suggested said that “Uber should have a lady driver service.”

    Meanwhile, Jemima is currently working on“What’s Love Got To Do With It”. Featuring Sajal, Shabana, Emma Thompson, Lily James and Shazad Latif in key roles, the movie is being directed by Shekhar Kapur of Mr India and Dil Se fame and will be produced by Goldsmith under the banner of her production house Instinct Productions. The film has been written by Jemima herself and is set between London and South Asia, exploring cross-cultural conflicts of love and marriage.

  • Shaadi wala Ghar? Five apps you need to have in your phone

    Shaadi wala Ghar? Five apps you need to have in your phone

    Weddings are serious business in Pakistan. From those getting married to those attending the wedding, everyone is equally involved in the events and happenings of the shaadi. The festivities can range from a few hours to a few days but no matter what, these five apps need to be in your phone at all times because they will help make your life easier.

    Ride-hailing apps – Careem, Uber

    This goes without saying. Having a ride-hailing app in your phone is an absolute must because you never know where you’ll end up getting stranded with no one to pick you. Despite all their issues, Careem and Uber are life-savers in a busy household.

    Ghar Par

    Sometimes going to the parlour is just not possible. Either there is too much happening at home or there is no car available. In situations like these, Ghar Par will be your saviour. Ghar Par offers all beauty services from waxing to manicures to blow-drys and hairdos. Save yourself the hassle and call a beautician home.

    Mauqa

    One thing is for sure – household help is extremely unreliable and in crisis situations, they are usually the first ones to bail – there are exceptions ofcourse. Nonetheless, whenever things get out of control and there is no one to clean the mess or do the laundry, book a helper from Mauqa.

    Mauqa has trained staff and they charge by the hour.

    Bank Account App

    No matter which bank you use, keep your bank’s app downloaded on your phone so you’re able to transfer money in a second.

    Food delivery apps – Foodpanda, Cheetay, Road Runner

    Waisay toh all shaadi wala ghars have plenty of food available round the clock, there are times when the cravings get to you, especially at midnight, and you want to have your favourite junk food. In times like those, food delivery apps are perhaps your best saviour.

  • 5 products of this decade that transformed the tech world

    5 products of this decade that transformed the tech world

    The year 2020 is almost here, marking the end of this dacade, but it surely brought a lot of new technology and gadgets which range from latest mobile applications to mobile phones, computers to smart devices, and much more in the internet of things.

    But not every product that is created in the past ten years has the same impact on the society. It takes some serious innovation and cultural adoption to really change the tech world.

    We have listed here a few tech innovations that truly changed tech and were hailed as the most revolutionary products this in this decade.

    WhatsApp:

    Launched in November 2009, WhatsApp is a social media messaging platform that is owned by Facebook and its impact on society was significant enough to be mentioned here.

    WhatsApp specializes in cross-platform messaging, it is a free service that lets users message one another seamlessly between mobile and desktop devices. It is known for its enhanced privacy features, like end-to-end encryption, and its free audio and video international calling services.

    Apple iPad:

    When Steve Jobs first revealed the iPad in early 2010, many wondered whether there was a room for a product that was bigger than a smartphone, but lighter than (and more limited in features than) a laptop.

    Apple originally designed this new device to occupy a new product category between the iPod touch/iPhone and the Mac and by late 2012, over 100 million iPad devices had been sold worldwide and around 71 million iPads were sold in 2013 alone.

    It runs the same version of operating system as the iPod touch and iPhone. Similarly, the iPad devices are compatible with the vast majority of mobile applications written for the iPhone and iPod touch as well.

    Uber:

    Launched in 2012, ther ride-hailing service Uber has become the most recognized alternative to the traditional taxi services around the world. The service is available in over 700 cities including around the world including Pakistan, and this number is set to increase even more.

    This service allows its users to order a cab from a mobile application by just mentioning the pickup and drop-off locations.

    However, with expansion the problems in the service also increased. Wired has reported that the company’s relationship with its drivers is fraught and the company also refuses to classify its drivers as employees. Moreover, it is has also been criticized for skimping on driver background checks.

    Apple iPhone 4S:

    The original iPhone was launched in 2007 and it was one of the most influential events of our modern era. But the launch of the iPhone 4S in October 2011, was the big game-changer for Apple company’s business.

    Its new design and being the first iPhone mobile device to boast a front-facing selfie camera with the launch of FaceTime and Apple’s video chat service, the device captured the market in an instance.

    Oculus Rift:

    Oculus Rift is a virtual reality headset, designed to connect to a high-powered PC to enable advanced computations and graphics rendering. The original prototype of this device was created in 2011 by the (then) 18-year-old Palmer Luckey in his parents’ garage in Long Beach, California.

    But what captured the comsumers’ interest was the launch of an HD (high-definition) version of the device in 2012. Later, in the fall of 2012, the company raised over two million dollars through its kickstarter crowdfunding campaign which is significantly higher that the $250,000 the startup sough.

    Oculus Rift’s constellation positioning technology uses gaze tracking and IR LED sensors to identify the user’s position while interacting with the virtual environment. It allows users to move freely within their physical environment, where they can sit, stand, walk, turn, duck and dodge as they desire.

  • Uber driver, who raped nurse, being deported back to India

    Uber driver, who raped nurse, being deported back to India

    An Indian Uber driver, who raped a nurse in Australia while she was unconscious, will be sentenced and deported back to India, Daily Mail has reported.

    According to the details, Manpreet Singh, a year back, was driving through Melbourne’s inner-city of Mulgrave when he came across the intoxicated woman at around 2 am.

    The woman had stopped to vomit after leaving a nearby pub on her walk home when Singh got out of his car and approached her.

    The women, at first, broke free but he continued to follow her. The next thing the woman remembers was waking up at around 5 am to Manpreet raping her at his house.

    The woman managed to escape and alerted the police, who arrested the guy the next day.

    Singh was living in the country on a bridging visa from India and was driving an Uber through another person’s registration at the time of the attack.

    Bridging visas are temporary permits that let you stay in Australia lawfully while your immigration status is resolved.

    Manpreet on Thursday appeared before a court and pleaded guilty.

    Singh was remanded into custody, will be sentenced on September 11 and deported back to India.