QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has announced the launch of the Pink Scooty and Electric Bikes Scheme to provide modern travel facilities to students, youth, and working women in the province.

The programme would provide subsidised scooters to students, working women, and others, making daily traveling more convenient for students and especially for the working women in Quetta in the first phase. Later, the scheme would be expanded to other cities of the province also.

The Balochistan government would introduce a comprehensive policy regarding the Pink Scooty and Electric Bikes scheme to award scooty to working women and students to make them empowered. Under the scheme, students of universities, colleges and secondary schools and working women will be awarded scooters to make women and students empowered and self-reliant, Mr Bugti said.

A high-level meeting, chaired by CM Bugti, on Thursday decided that under the scheme pink scooters would be provided to female students and electronic bikes to male students.

Under the programme, subsidised scooters will be provided to students, working women

The initiative is designed to empower women and youth by addressing their travel challenges as the scheme will also be accessible to the general public under bank financing, with specifics and procedural details now being finalised.

“The goal of this scheme is to provide easier mobility and promote independence for women and young people,” said the chief minister.

Mr Bugti said the government is determined to provide ample opportunities for development in every sphere of life to the women of Balochistan and it wants to ensure that students, both male and female, and working women benefit from this programme.

A special committee, to be led by the secretary of finance, will be formed to devise the criteria for awarding scooters and bikes, ensuring a transparent and efficient process.

The chief minister said the project would not be restricted to students alone, but would also be open to the general public under easy terms, making modern travel facilities accessible to a wider population.

The chief minister announced that the scheme would receive financial support through bank financing, in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan, to ensure its sustainability and success.

The formal launch of the Pink Scooters Scheme is scheduled to coincide with International Women’s Day, signaling the provincial government’s strong commitment to women’s empowerment and independence.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2025