Women on Wheels project launched in Lahore

Lahore: Women on Wheels project was launched today with a motorcycle rally of women on historical Mall Road of Lahore. 150 women motorcyclists completing training with the collaboration of Special Monitoring Unit on Law & Order and City Traffic Police, under WoW Project took part in the rally.

Austrian Ambassador Brigitta Balaha and prominent lawyer Asma Jahangir also participated in the rally.

Provincial Minister for Population Welfare Zakia Shahnawaz, Minister for Women Development Hameeda Waheed ud Din, Senior Member SMU Salman Sufi, assembly members, , Danish Ambassador Helen Neilson, American Consul General in Lahore Zackary Harkenrider, UN Women Country Representative Jamshed Qazi, a prominent motorcyclist of Singapore Juvena Huan, people of different walks of life and a large number of women were present on the occasion.

It may be mentioned that on the instructions of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, pink scooties will be given to working women and girl students under WoW Project and this process will start on International Women Day.

Provincial Minister for Population Welfare Zakia Shahnawaz has said that provision of equal opportunities of development to women is the responsibility of Punjab government. She said that no effort will be spared for making Women on Wheels project successful. She said that government will continue the process of legislation for empowerment of women.

She expressed these views while addressing a seminar on “Women on Wheels” arranged by Special Monitoring Unit  Chief Minister House (Law & Order) at Alhamra Hall today. Minister for Women Development Punjab Hameeda Waheed ud Din said that provision of pink Scooties for working women is a revolutionary step.

She said that government will give subsidy on provision of 1000 Scooties to women on International Women’s Day. She said that the steps of the government against harassment of women are yielding positive results.

The Minister told that women desk is being set up in every police station in Punjab. Member National Assembly Maiza Hameed said that there should be social boycott of the elements involved in harassment of women. She said that Parda wearing women have also equal rights of education and development in the society.

CCPO Lahore Amin Wains said that Lahore police will provide all out protection to women motorcyclists. He said that police security will be available to women within five minutes after call on police helpline 15. He said that women can seek help though SMS on 8330 in any emergent situation.

Women Country Head of UNO, Jamshed Qazi said that provision of equal opportunity of progress to women throughout the world is yielding encouraging results. He said that Pakistan women have to spend more on transport facility as compared to men. He said that through WOW project, women will not only achieve transport but also facility of reduction in expenditure.

Prominent lawyer Asma Jahangir congratulated Punjab government and SMU on WOW project. Senior Member Special Monitoring Unit Law & Order Suleman Sufi said that Punjab government first time in the history on country in making effort for providing easy facility of transport for working women and girl students. He told that enforcement of Punjab Women Protection Bill will play an important role for curbing the incident of women harassment.

Ambassador of Austria Dr. Brigitta Balaha said that provision of opportunity and facilities to Pakistani women is commendable step. She said that Pakistani women are safer in the present days as compared to previous tenures.

American Consul General Zachary Harkenrider said that it is an honor for him to see the historic rally of motorcyclist women. He said that American institutions are providing assistance to Pakistani people for improving in education, health and other sectors. He said that that the aim of meeting of Mariam Nawaz Sharif with Mrs. Obama was promotion of mutual cooperation in education.

Danish Ambassador Helen Nelson said that harassment of women in intolerable in developed societies.

In the end, Provincial Ministers, foreign guests and Members National and Provincial Assembly distributed certificates among traffic wardens providing training to motorcycle riding and women getting training.