ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a ceremony held for women drivers and motorcyclists said one of the keys to women economic empowerment was to drive and ride independently.

One of the participants at the programme organised by non-governmental organisations, including Awareness, Bedari and Oxfam, at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) even announced her willingness to enter the job market in the transport sector.

“I can ride my own bike now whenever I want to ride it and can get registered with Bykea,” said Hina Adil.

Around 80 girls and women from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were awarded certificates on completion of their training in driving and riding a motorcycle.

Under the joint programme, women from the twin cities were trained in bike and car skills for a month.

Using this skill, these women will be able to become financially active by providing pick-and-drop services to various driving companies such as Careem, Uber, Bikeya, Food Panda, courier services, school and college pick and drop for women etc.

Addressing the participants on behalf of Oxfam Pakistan, Sehar Afsheen said there was a need to increase the representation of women as drivers in the transport sector.

“Women as drivers should occupy their spaces in a male dominant society,” said Ms Afsheen.

The speakers said Pakistan was deeply a society and male members of families still opposed their females to move around in the public transport due to the conditions of these vehicles and attitude of their drivers and conductors.

These restrictions constrain women from working, pursuing higher education and venturing beyond their neighbourhoods.

Ambreen Ajaib, Executive Director Bedari, said the initiative has been launched to increase female mobility by breaking the taboo associated with their use of two-wheelers.

Dr Fauzia Saeed, PNCA Executive Director, inaugurated the skill display at the pathways of the PNCA.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2021