Women on Wheels: 150 Pakistani women rally on bikes

Disputes over cricket, terror, and security issues may separate them, but Pakistan and India seem to be undergoing similar social change at the moment. Where the call for gender equality is sounded in one, can the other be far behind? A good example of this societal commonality is the recent spurt in women bikers coming forth and displaying their love for two wheels in either nation. This is especially a welcome surprise in Pakistan, where the repression of women and their rights - even to education - has been highlighted in the life of Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai. Breaking all stereotypes and barriers, 150 women riders of Lahore in collaboration with the Special Monitoring Unit on Law & Order and the City Traffic Police there participated in a rally named ‘Women on Wheels’, last weekend.



The rally was supported by many senior officials and diplomats including Austrian Ambassador Brigitta Blaha and well-known lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir. As reported by a local daily of Pakistan, the two-wheeler ride of these 150 women was organised in a joint effort by Punjab Chief Minister’s Special Monitoring Unit (SMU) on Law and Order and City Traffic Police at City Traffic driving school in Thokar Niaz Baig. As you can tell from the pictures available, the riders had a gala time, while doing what they love.



To further the cause, Head of State Shahbaz Sharif stated that as many as 1,000 scooters would be given at 50% rate financed by the government under the WOW (women on wheels) project. The initiative will commence from International Women’s Day. Females under 40 years of age will be encouraged to support the coming generation to join national development efforts, through the activity.



Along with Blaha and Jahangir, the event was supported by Danish ambassador Helen Neilson, American Consul General in Lahore Zachary Harkenrider, UN Women’s Country Representative Jamshed Qazi, motorcyclist Juvena Huang from Singapore, Provincial Minister for Population Welfare Zakia Shahnawaz, Minister for Women Development Hameeda Waheeduddin and SMU’s Salman Sufi.