KARACHI - National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has so far handed over about 50,000 environment friendly CNG rickshaws worth more than Rs 5.5 billion to applicants all over Pakistan under its Rozgar scheme. This was stated by the Group Chief Consumer Banking NBP Aamir Siddiqui in an interview here Monday. He said that about 75,000 applicants have been registered so far under the scheme involving a total amount of Rs 7.5 billion. He pointed out 20,000 registered applicants are waiting for the deliveries of CNG rickshaws from the manufacturers. "In my view, NBP is not only promoting self-unemployment among youth, but also making a humble effort by replacing heavy and dangerous smoke emitting rickshaw with CNG rickshaw", he said. Amir said that NBP also has a distinction of developing CNG rickshaw industry in Pakistan, thus providing employment to thousands of jobless and improving environment in the country. "Currently, ten assemblers including Masters, Qingqi, Pak Hero and Sazgar are producing CNG rickshaws for NBP Rozgar scheme so that the applicant can select a rickshaw of his own choice", he opined. He said that NBP has told the manufacturers that it will cancel the contract if the rickshaw has a generic problem. "Besides, it is also in the contract that the manufacturer will refund the money, if the customer was not satisfied with the quality or performance of rickshaw, he added. Responding to a question about the complaints of inferior quality of rickshaws, Aamir said that NBP has canceled the contract with M/s Qingqi after receiving reports of faults in its auto rickshaw. He maintained that the quality of CNG rickshaws was inspected by the Engineering Development Board and Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) before their launching. Besides, Provincial Transport Authority was also involved in the registration of these rickshaws. All of them are technical and expert organisations, he added. Aamir said that a group of "transport mafia" was trying to malign NBP Rozgar scheme products to avoid instalment payments, which are due now. "Members of this mafia rent out their rickshaws and now they are loosing their clients after the introduction of our Rozgar scheme", he observed. He said that no CNG rickshaw was given to applicants in Islamabad because there is a ban on rickshaw in the capital. He pointed out that NBP will soon start the campaign to recover instalments. If they do not pay their dues, NBP will reposes rickshaws and give them to other applicants, he added. "We will also hold country-wide seminars to create awareness about NBP Rozgar scheme in every walk of life and let the people know the truth in this regard", he maintained. He pointed out that rickshaw manufacturers have reported to NBP that the drivers are new therefore damage parts of rickshaw while driving. Aamir said that rickshaw vendors provide free check up service and replacement of parts during a guarantee period and parts are available all over the country. He said that the bank has planned to introduce more products in the folder of its Rozgar scheme. NBP will provide a financing up to 200,000 to doctors having clinics in rural area for purchase of equipment like hand-held ECG machine, urine analyser, pulse oximeter, glucose and cholesterol tester and computer with printer to provide healthcare facilities. Similarly, a financing facility up to Rs 700,000 for the purchase of small trucks and taxi for transport and general purpose supplies to and from the market. In addition, NBP will provide a loan of Rs 500,000 under its Rozgar scheme for setting up retail business, workshops, trade shops, clinics, professional shops and other small business.