Women-only auto-rickshaw service starts in Pakistan

Risingbd Desk: A Pakistani woman, fed up of being harassed by male drivers, has launched a female-only auto-rickshaw service in her home city of Lahore.

Zar Aslam, president of Pakistan`s non-profit Environment Protection Fund, launched the service with just the one rickshaw on the road so far but she is hoping for sponsors to help with the cost of the vehicles to try to get 25 up and running by the end of the year.

Zar said she once narrowly escaped kidnapping by a rickshaw driver when she was a student, which triggered the idea of launching her "Pink Rickshaw" service.

Pakistan is notorious for sexual abuse of women, euphemistically known as "Eve-teasing". Offenders often go unpunished within a legal system that can treat the victims as the guilty party.

"I and my co-workers face harassment by male auto drivers or by passersby while waiting for public transport."

"This is another step towards women`s financial and professional empowerment," Aslam told Reuters at her home in Lahore, showing off her first rickshaw.

The rickshaws are covered, three-wheel motorcycles. Aslam has bought one and added fans, doors and headlights and painted it pink and white.

“One rickshaw costs 300,000 rupees [£3,250], therefore it cannot be done without sponsorship from donors,” she said, adding that the government had not offered assistance. “We will lease out the rickshaws to deserving females on easy instalment. We will teach them driving and will also help them get the driving licence,” she said.

Source: Agencies

risingbd/DHAKA/Apr 11, 2015/Augustin Sujan