Uber has announced its decision to discontinue its ride-hailing app in Pakistan, as revealed on Tuesday.
Back in 2019, Uber had made headlines by acquiring its rival Careem for a whopping $3.1 billion. Despite the acquisition, both companies had assured customers that they would maintain their individual regional services and brand identities.
However, in October 2022, Uber had already halted its operations in several major Pakistani cities including Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar, and Islamabad. The company was operating in the aforementioned cities via its subsidiary, Careem and in Lahore via its app.
In a recent development, Uber has notified its users in Lahore via email about the cessation of its services in the city effective April 30. The email communicated the company’s “difficult decision” to discontinue the Uber app services.
The email assured users that ride-hailing services would still be available through Careem, offering them the option to seamlessly transition to the subsidiary brand. Users were also given the opportunity to opt out of sharing their details with Careem by filling out a form provided by May 3, 2024.
Furthermore, for users holding Uber Cash balance in their Uber Wallet, the company pledged to communicate the process for reclaiming their balances in due course. As a gesture of goodwill, users were also offered a 50 per cent discount on their next five rides with Careem.