By Syed Wahaj Ahmed
Inducting female bus drivers into the pink bus services will play a vital role in promoting gender equality and giving a true sense of security to women commuters as empowering women cherishes the vision of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, said Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon.
While presiding over the 10th board meeting of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) in Karachi, he emphasized that empowering women in all fields is the vision of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Including female bus drivers will not only promote gender equality but also strengthen the sense of safety and security during women’s commutes.
He said that implementing the second phase of the People’s Bus Service is due to significantly reduce travel problems for people, giving relief and convenience to them.
Moreover, Memon further stated that the introduction of an environment-friendly electric taxi service will not only create a positive environmental impact but also generate new employment opportunities.
The Sindh government intends to complete the Red Line BRT project expeditiously with a view to improving public transportation and enhancing the quality of lives for locals, he added.
Participants suggested a host of decisions including consideration of providing subsidies to the People’s Bus Service following the approval of the Sindh cabinet.
Empowering women is a remarkable initiative, that is why the board decided to impart a couple of training programmes to women drivers, specially for pink buses drivers so that the drivers will operate pink buses exclusively for female passengers, enhancing a more sense of safety during women’s travelling.
During the meeting, the board discussed the feasibility report for adding another fleet of 500 buses and introducing an environment-friendly electric taxi service.
While highlighting the progress of transportation system, the Sindh government aims to expedite the completion of the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, while benefiting people who may enjoy a modern and comfortable transportation system
Those who attended and spoke during the meeting consisted of Secretary Transport Saleem Rajput, DIG Traffic Ahmed Nawaz Cheema and all other officials concerned.
They presented proposals to streamline the project so that bus commuters may make better use of services being launched by Sindh government which is fulfilling its commitments one after the other.
Sindh Human Rights Policy 2023 approved by Sindh cabinet
Meanwhile, the Sindh cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah approved the Sindh Human Rights Policy 2023 for five years to ensure protection and promotion of human rights of various marginalized sections of the society such as women, children, physically-challenged persons, workers, minorities, transgenders and that.
The policy which sets a range of targets in various sectors includes introduction of human rights degree programmes at the university level; taking proactive measures to protect minority places of worship; bringing reforms in the curriculum to promote tolerance, discourage hate speech against the religious minorities.
It also called for fixing defects in the criminal justice system, administration of justice, police service through the development and implementation of comprehensive policies and programmes aimed to develop a robust system for access of a free legal aid to the vulnerable community and other problems.
The policy pleaded for evolving a strategy to curb anti-women practices including forced marriages, honour killings and others.
Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh for Human Rights Surendar Valasai termed approval of the policy a vivid example of commitment made by the PPP towards human rights, while Secretary Human Rights Department Jawed Sibghatullah Mahar said that it would enhance strong inter-coordination among departments concerned while lauding the policy.
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