Nearly 100 women participated in a Bike rally in Karachi over the weekend, in order to push for a message of female empowerment and a life of independence.
“That’s what I wanted for these women, who may be housewives, students, doctors, nurses or from any other profession. I didn’t want them to depend on anyone for transport,” founder of Pink Riders Payam-i-Khurram told reporters
“Women comprise 52 per cent of Pakistan’s population, and if they become independent, Pakistan will become independent.”
“Women ride scooters and motorcycles all over the world so why should there be an issue here? That’s why, we organised this rally of 100 women motorcycle riders, to create awareness among people that women can also ride bikes,” he added.
“For the purpose the rally, which started at Nagan Chowrangi, includes areas such as Sohrab Goth, KDA Chowrangi, Karimabad, Sohrab Goth, NIPA Chowrangi, Hassan Square, Karsaz, etc, and not just posh areas such as Clifton or Defence. It is to show everyone living in these areas that the women here can and the women here are not going to rely on anyone but themselves to reach their respective destinations.”
Another rider Rachel Javed said that not having one’s own transport can really be a hurdle for women. “Taxis and rickshaws are expensive and we were spending more than Rs300 on conveyance every day, which was burning a hole in our pockets,” she said.