Lahore gets first women-only auto-rickshaw to beat 'male pests'

Published April 10, 2015
Zar Aslam, president of Pakistan's non-profit Environment Protection Fund, drives a Pink Rickshaw in Lahore April 8, 2015. — Reuters
Zar Aslam, president of Pakistan's non-profit Environment Protection Fund, drives a Pink Rickshaw in Lahore April 8, 2015. — Reuters
Zar Aslam, president of Pakistan's non-profit Environment Protection Fund, poses beside a Pink Rickshaw in Lahore April 8, 2015. — Reuters
Zar Aslam, president of Pakistan's non-profit Environment Protection Fund, poses beside a Pink Rickshaw in Lahore April 8, 2015. — Reuters

LAHORE: An environmentalist, fed up with being groped and harassed by male auto-rickshaw drivers, has launched her own service exclusively for women passengers and drivers in her home city of Lahore - with just the one rickshaw on the road so far.

Zar Aslam, president of Pakistan's non-profit Environment Protection Fund, said she once narrowly escaped kidnapping by a rickshaw driver when she was a student, which triggered the idea of launching her “Pink Rickshaw” service.

Pakistan is notorious for sexual abuse of women, euphemistically known as “Eve-teasing”. Offenders often go unpunished within a legal system that can treat the victims as the guilty party.

Read: Traffic on Walled City road stretch banned

“This is another step towards women's financial and professional empowerment,” Aslam told Reuters at her home in Lahore, showing off her first rickshaw.

“I and my co-workers face harassment by male auto drivers or by passersby while waiting for public transport.”

The “rickshaws” are covered three-wheel motorcycles and Aslam bought one to start with, added fans, doors and headlights and painted it pink and white.

Also read: Wajiha, the rickshaw driver

The plan is to have at least 25 up and running by the end of the year, with Aslam looking out for sponsors.

“One auto costs 300,000 rupees (about $3,000), therefore it cannot be done without sponsorship from donors,” she said, adding that the government has not offered any assistance.

“We will lease out the autos to deserving females on easy instalment,” Aslam said. “We will teach them driving and will also help them get the driving licence.”

Opinion

Editorial

Khuzdar atrocity
Updated 22 May, 2025

Khuzdar atrocity

A process of reconciliation is sorely needed in the province, solely militarised response will be insufficient.
Budget and climate
22 May, 2025

Budget and climate

Govt's plan to present a climate-focused budget for the next fiscal year is a welcome paradigm shift in national economic planning.
Justice for Noor
Updated 22 May, 2025

Justice for Noor

Noor's death was the result of not just one person’s malevolence, but a preventable tragedy caused by several individuals failing to do the right thing.
Gaza’s horror
Updated 21 May, 2025

Gaza’s horror

The quickest way to stop the bloodshed would be for the US to immediately halt all military and financial aid to Israel.
Climate planning
21 May, 2025

Climate planning

ALTHOUGH the effects of climate change manifest themselves throughout the year, they seem particularly more...
Failed auction
21 May, 2025

Failed auction

THE poor response to the government’s bid to sell three redundant thermal power plants indicates the investors’...