Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has faced criticism after a video showed him riding a bicycle ambulance during the inauguration of a new SIEHS-1122 emergency base in Orangi Town.
The clip quickly spread across social media, where users mocked the bicycle as outdated and questioned whether Pakistan was moving backward while other countries adopted more advanced emergency technology. The controversy was also picked up by Indian media, further amplifying the online ridicule.
However, much of the criticism presented the bicycle ambulance as a newly launched replacement for conventional ambulances. That is not what happened.
Mayor Inaugurated an Emergency Base
Wahab visited Orangi Town for the inauguration of a new operational base of the Sindh Integrated Emergency and Health Services, which operates the province’s Rescue 1122 ambulance network.
The base was shifted from Kati Pahari to a government-owned building near Banaras to improve emergency response times in Orangi Town and surrounding congested areas.
Wahab rode the bicycle ambulance during the event, but the vehicle itself was not introduced for the first time that day.
Bicycle Ambulances Were Already Operating in 2025
Karachi’s bicycle ambulance service was launched by Rescue 1122 in May 2025 to help emergency responders reach patients in densely populated neighborhoods, markets and narrow streets where conventional ambulances may be delayed or unable to enter.
SIEHS later displayed mountain bicycle ambulances as part of its wider emergency fleet and described them as vehicles intended for congested or difficult-to-access locations. The service also introduced female rapid-response bike teams during 2025.
Indian Media Reports the Online Mockery
The controversy also attracted coverage from Indian media. The Times of India reported that the initiative was being mocked online but noted that the bicycles were developed to navigate Karachi’s narrow streets and severe traffic congestion.
Why the Idea Is Being Criticized
The backlash appears to be driven largely by the bicycle’s basic appearance, and for many viewers, the sight of the mayor riding a pedal-powered ambulance appeared inconsistent with the needs of a city struggling with major gaps in healthcare, transport and emergency infrastructure.
Critics also questioned whether authorities were presenting a limited first-response vehicle as a major technological achievement.
What the Bicycle Can and Cannot Do
A bicycle ambulance cannot transport an injured person, carry advanced life-support equipment or provide the protection and capacity of a road ambulance.
It can, however, move through narrow lanes, crowded markets and traffic queues more easily than a van. In those areas, even a few minutes saved in reaching a patient may allow a trained responder to begin first aid before a larger ambulance arrives.
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