Former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has criticized the government for competing with private taxi drivers, calling it a sign of poor policy direction.

Shahid made the remarks on social media following the launch of the government’s electric vehicle (EV) taxi service. In a post on X, he noted that the taxi industry has long been a public business, but the government is now directly competing with private operators. He argued that the administration should focus on creating a business-friendly environment and regulating existing challenges rather than entering the market itself.

According to Shahid, such actions indicate a lack of clear economic goals and a failure to generate revenue through proper governance. He also pointed out that neither the government nor ruling party leaders are openly addressing concerns over the state's involvement in taxi services.

The government has awarded the contract for the EV taxi service to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) to improve urban transportation and promote environmentally friendly mobility. At the launch event, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen stated that the service aims to reduce taxi wait times, particularly at Velana International Airport, where studies suggest taxis will be available within one to two minutes of request.