AS a woman, living in Pakistan can be a challenging experience. The Global Gender Gap Report from 2022 placed Pakistan at the 145th spot in a survey of 146 countries. The only worse performer than Pakistan was Afghanistan. This is a concerning fact, considering that women make up nearly half of the population at 48.54%. Now, if you happen to be a woman living in the second worst country for women while also residing in the fourth worst city in the world, then you might be a little concerned about the quality of your life.
One of the biggest challenges that women face in Karachi is their daily commute. Karachi’s public transport is non-existent, and what does exist is privately owned. The city of Karachi and women have a similar relationship with the Pakistani government and society. They are both underrated and well-neglected by them. There once was a time when Karachi had trams, and post-trams, it had the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), but that era has long faded. What is left now are dangerous but functioning Chinches, famous for their reckless drivers and toppling over. No one would recommend them, but if you’re desperate, they get the job done. Which is the case for a lot of people in Karachi. Even in the largest and one of the more progressive cities in the country, women fully capable of affording and driving a car or motorcycle often choose not to do so, either due to family restrictions, fear of harassment, or lack of confidence in their driving abilities.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel as the situation has been improving with Karachi’s very own public transport finally up and running. Now, the city has The Karachi Breeze, the orange line, and the People’s Bus Service or the red line, which includes the Pink Bus exclusively for women. All of this is a step in the right direction. Just a few years ago, the only women who used public transport were the ones with no other option. However, now, with safe, affordable, and punctual transport available, many women no longer have to depend on men in their families for commuting. This change has brought about a significant improvement in the lives of the women in Karachi. In my opinion, this safe way of commuting has liberated the women and young girls of the city. All of these buses give women the option to travel with dignity.
This public transport system in Karachi is not only safe and affordable but also clean, environmentally friendly, and accessible for differently-abled people as well as the elderly. By providing women with safe and reliable transportation options, we can empower them to lead better, more independent lives. The plans for the largest network connecting the outskirts to the city centre, the Blue Line, are underway, and with plans to replace male drivers with women on the Pink buses, there is hope that Pakistan’s and Karachi’s spot in their own rankings might just improve in the coming years.
—The writer is associated with SZABIST Karachi.
Email: manhalzaka24@gmail.com
views expressed are writer’s own.
