inDrive to Integrate AI into Ride Operations

Staff Report

Islamabad: inDrive, a global ride-hailing platform, plans to integrate AI to automate ride operations in Pakistan.

The company is the first in Pakistan to integrate AI into ride-hailing operations, leveraging machine learning for smarter dispatching, fraud detection, and a better customer experience.

The company is on a mission to challenge injustice and unlock opportunities, and is rapidly transforming Pakistan’s mobility landscape.

With a powerful blend of innovation, inclusivity, and operational excellence, inDrive—under the leadership of Muhammad Awais Saeed—is paving the way for sustainable growth, particularly in underrepresented cities.CCP Engages tech giants over unfair practices

After posting 26% year-on-year growth in 2024, the company is now achieving 30% quarter-on-quarter growth in 2025, fueled by Pakistan’s recovering economy and the untapped potential of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities such as Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, and Hyderabad. “The market’s potential is unlimited,” says Saeed, emphasizing that in many cities, inDrive is the only structured player, giving it a significant head start in building loyalty and delivering reliable services.

Pakistan’s ride-hailing landscape is as diverse as its population. With 50% of rides in cars, 30% on bikes, and 20% in rickshaws, each mode reflects distinct commuter needs. Significantly, 60–65% of inDrive’s users are female, preferring cars for added safety—making the platform a dependable option for women seeking secure travel options.

Yet even as inDrive works towards elevating standards in Pakistan, it finds itself grappling with a few bureaucratic speed bumps. Saeed revealed that recently, Safe City Islamabad officials temporarily sealed the offices of all ride-hailing companies, including inDrive, citing non-compliance with recently introduced data security protocols. While framed as a security move, the sudden nature of this action disrupted ongoing services and revealed the lack of structured implementation planning from the authorities.

Under the new directive, ride-hailing operators are now mandated to register all new drivers and active fleet details with the Islamabad Police and ensure that every vehicle displays three government-issued QR codes. These QR codes, used for real-time verification of identity and ride data, are printed by an authorized vendor of Islamabad Police at a cost of PKR 200 per set, which drivers must bear themselves. While inDrive supports safety enhancements, the sudden financial and operational burden on drivers raises concerns about fairness and planning.

To address the issue constructively, inDrive conducted internal sessions with its driver recruiters and Driver Facilitation Centre (DFC) staff to clarify the data submission and QR code procedures while identifying bottlenecks in the process. Pain points related to data synchronization and QR validation were addressed during these meetings.

inDrive also met with Safe City Islamabad management to understand the newly introduced protocols and explore feasible solutions. One such proposal—from Safe City officials—suggested introducing a PKR 5 passenger-scan fee. Under this plan, passengers could voluntarily scan the QR code, and Islamabad Safe City would share the scan data with inDrive for reconciliation. Importantly, all proceeds from these scans would be donated to charitable causes, beginning with support for the families of martyred police officers—demonstrating inDrive’s intent to balance compliance with community contribution.

Despite regulatory turbulence, inDrive remains one of the most compliant and tax-contributing players in the sector. The company currently contributes several million rupees every month to the national exchequer through entities such as the Punjab Revenue Authority, Sindh Revenue Board, and KPK Revenue Authority. This places it among the top-performing private firms in the ride-hailing space from a fiscal responsibility standpoint.

Saeed also addressed persistent industry challenges such as fraud, low financial literacy, and Pakistan’s strong cash-based culture. These factors continue to limit the adoption of credit systems and digital payments. “The literacy rate is a big issue. People often don’t even know how the app fully works,” he added, pointing to the need for awareness and education to bridge the trust deficit between users and platforms.

inDrive’s driver-friendly fare negotiation model significantly reduces cancellation ratio is 1/5 of the competitors, as Saeed claims. This not only ensures a smoother experience for users but also improves lost item recovery rates, building long-term trust in the platform.

While large-scale fleet owners are rare, they do exist. Saeed shared the story of a Karachi-based franchise owner managing a fleet of over 200 vehicles and even maintaining his own garage to reduce operational costs. In terms of individual earning potential, he highlighted a case where a driver earned over PKR 315,000 in one month by completing just 15 rides a day, with an average fare of PKR 700—showing how the platform can support meaningful economic upliftment when used diligently.

As inDrive scales its operations in Pakistan, it is also investing in green mobility. The company is currently engaged in discussions with stakeholders to introduce electric vehicles and sustainable transport alternatives. Projects in development include bike swapping stations, retrofitting existing bikes, and potential collaboration with local automaker Honri on their EV model.

Although a previously considered plan to set up a dedicated IT center in Pakistan was shelved, the company continues to develop tech capabilities internally through Pakistan-based teams. inDrive plans to ramp up hiring for central roles within the country and create meaningful local job opportunities—aligning with its mission to foster economic development alongside innovation.

Through it all, inDrive stands out not just as a ride-hailing platform, but as a force for transformation—committed to fairness, transparency, innovation, and impact. By navigating bureaucracy with resilience, investing in technology, and centering its mission on people—not just profit—inDrive is redefining what it means to move forward in Pakistan’s evolving digital economy.