RAWALPINDI: A private cellular company in collaboration with Regional Transport Authority (RTA) will launch Tabeer Women Transport Service from February 17.

The facility will cater to the transport needs of women of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The ticket collectors in the transport service will also be women.

The new service will operate on the Saddar-Islamabad route for one year and after Metro Bus Service commences, it will shift to another route.

The RTA plans to launch similar services on all routes of the twin cities. Initially 12 wagons would ply on route no 1 (Saddar to Pakistan Secretariat) and route no 7 (Kohinoor Mills to Soan bus terminal).

The first route will start from Saddar and end in Islamabad while the other route would start from Soan Camp bus terminal with its final stop at Kohinoor Mills.

Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Awais Manzoor Tarar, Al-Abrar Associates Chief Executive Officer Ali Hamdani and Deputy Director Human Resource Zong Nabeela Yazdani gave presentation at the RTA office.

“The first ever project with the name of Tabeer Women Transport Service will be launched on February 17 with the objective of extending comfortable, safe and prompt transport facilities to women in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

This project has been made self-reliant and all the expenditures would be met with the cooperation of sponsors,” RTA Secretary Awais Manzoor Tarar said.

“Arrangements have been made to ensure completion of route and a fare similar to other public transport service would be charged from women passengers of this special service.

The service will start at 7am and continue till 7pm. No vehicle would be allowed to stop for more than five minutes at any bus stop,” he added.

The RTA secretary said this would be a pilot project and after examining its success rate, it would be extended to more areas.

He said only women would serve as road hostess in the Tabeer Women Transport Service and in case of any complaint from passengers, immediate action would be taken.

He said vehicles of up to 2008 model would be allowed to ply on these routes, adding that working women and students would benefit from this facility.