Pink buses in Karachi will now be driven by female drivers

Karachi: The pink buses seen on the streets of Shahr Quaid will now be driven by trained women, the last phase of training for the ongoing driving classes at Mehran depot will be completed on January 15.

Pakistan currently lags far behind in terms of gender equality, but brave women in Karachi are trying to bridge the gap by taking part in non-traditional sectors, women can now be seen driving pink buses on the streets.

Women conductors were hired earlier for the women-only pink buses, now the drivers will also be women. 18 women divers are being trained by the Sindh Mass Transit Authority, a subsidiary of the Sindh government.

These women are being trained on various equipment including diesel hybrid, electric hybrid and full electric bus including driving, engine, battery, communication and safety skills.

Kiran Iftikhar, a woman who confidently took over the driving seat of the hybrid bus, while talking to “Express” said that if you are the owner of strong ambitions, nothing is difficult, we will prove by our actions that women buses can also run. can Karan said women should leave their homes and learn like us and then work.

Operational Manager People’s Bus Abdul Shakoor said that in the first phase, women who have a driving license will be allowed to drive on BRT. .

Advocate Zakia Sultana as a trainer informed all female drivers about the law and ways to avoid accidents, Zakia Sultana while talking to Express said that confident girls from all over Sindh have come to learn bus driving, among them masters degree holders. There are also female students who will now serve as bus drivers. He said that transgenders should also come forward in this field, we are all equal citizens.

Advocate Ahsan Ali, speaking to Express, said that women drivers were made aware of the law related to driving and how the law can protect them. Section 279, Section 320, Section 8 and General Defense should also be mentioned so that women are aware of the law when they are stopped or challaned.

In the first phase of the training, the women were taught driving by the Motorway Police, now the second phase of the training is going on at the Mehran depot. The presence of female drivers and conductors in pink buses has presented a practical example of an empowered and strong woman.