SIALKOT, Jan 13: Two woman doctors along with their 28 male counterparts appointed at basic health units (BHUs) across the district have been provided motorcycles by the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD).

These doctors have been handed over these motorbikes under NCHD’s Punjab Integrated Primary Healthcare Model Project, aiming at facilitating their travelling to and from their work place to field areas.

District Nazim Muhammad Akmal Cheema, DCO Captain Atta Muhammad Khan (retired) and Health EDO Dr. Arshad Dar distributed the keys of the motorcycles to the doctors, including Dr. Raffia Rana deputed at BHU Marakiwal and Dr. Mahira Toor at BHU Badhaal, at a special ceremony held here on Sunday.

District Health Officer Dr. Javaid Warraich told Dawn that the project was aimed at enabling the doctors to conduct field monitoring more conveniently and effectively, particularly in far-flung areas, besides providing dwellers of rural areas genuine medical treatment and saving them from quacks.

Though there is no concept of women’s driving motorcycles still rampant in Pakistani society because of certain social taboos, health department officials claimed that the ladies’ duo was very happy over the development and they were indeed zealous to benefit from the opportunity. Dr Raffia and Dr Mahira were, however, not available for their comment.

In an era where Pakistan Air Force was recruiting young women as fighter pilots and woman traffic wardens were driving motorcycles on the roads of major cities elegantly, locals have criticised the development, saying it was aimed at breaking social norms and ethical values. They said the development could cause severe social problems for the woman doctors and their families.

Sialkot-based NCHD officials said that though the motorcycles have also been given to two woman doctors, they (Dr Raffia and Dr Mahira) could manage the vehicles in a better way for travelling to and from their workplace by either getting the services of their male subordinates or any of their male family members.