📈 PickMe Urges Higher Fuel Quotas for Shared Mobility

PickMe has called for prioritized fuel allocations for ride-hailing services as global uncertainty places fresh pressure on Sri Lanka’s energy supplies. The company argues that the current shared mobility model offers higher economic value per liter compared to private transport. • Efficiency Argument: PickMe emphasizes that app-based platforms reduce "empty mileage" by connecting drivers and passengers in real-time, ensuring vehicles move with purpose rather than searching for fares. • Capacity Impact: A single vehicle in the shared economy can serve dozens of passengers daily, effectively replacing multiple private vehicle trips and maximizing limited resources. • Economic Resilience: Higher quotas for taxis and ride-hailing vehicles are seen as essential to sustaining daily economic activity and protecting the livelihoods of thousands of drivers. • Policy Proposal: The company advocates for a data-driven approach within the existing QR-based rationing system to favor sectors that move more people with less fuel. The proposal positions ICT-enabled transport as a tool for national resilience, ensuring the country stays mobile during periods of resource scarcity.