Daily Times

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Sunday provided the women of Lahore with a chance to fulfil another dream of riding a bike without any fear by organising a motorbike rally titled ‘Women on Wheels’ (WoW).

The project launching ceremony was held at Lahore Arts Council (Alhamra), while the motorcycle rally was taken out from Kashmir Road and ended on the same point after completing its route from The Mall where hundreds of people and social activists watched. In the rally, 80 of the 150 women who enrolled in the project participated. Prominent lawyer Asma Jahangir also enjoyed the motorcycle ride.

Austrian Ambassador Brigitta Balaha, UN Women Country Representative Jamshed Qazi, a prominent motorcyclist of Singapore Juvena Huan also participated in the rally, Population Welfare Minister Zakia Shahnawaz, Women Development Minister Hameeda Waheed ud Din, SMU Senior Member Salman Sufi, Danish Ambassador Helen Neilson, US Consul General Zachary Harkenrider were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Asma Jahangir said that women have achieved their rights and were making a status with their own efforts and struggle. She said that she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with every woman and raised her voice for their protection at each platform. She added that the government should take more steps for the women development but WoW was their great effort.

Jamshed Qazi said that the world was receiving fruitful result where equal right were given to women. He said that women were spending a lot of money on transport to move from one place to another when compare to men but now women can save their money as WoW project provides facilities to the working women for travelling and helps to build their confidence.

Sulman Sufi said that the Pakistani women have been harassed, groped and assaulted in public spaces to the point that they no longer felt safe stepping out alone. Taking this into consideration, the CM’s Special Monitoring Unit for law and order (SMU) aims to put an end to street violence and harassment against women. He said that the rally boosted the confidence of women, which helps them in future while facing problems. He further said that the motorcycle training lessons were provided on a rolling basis and women who had completed the course were ready to move on the roads. They have increased independence and mobility of women through the rally, he added.

CCPO Lahore said that the police would provide protection to women motorcyclist within five minutes of receiving their distress call. He vowed that women would also be facilitated by sending one text message to the number 8330.