Pakistani women break barriers with Women on Wheels project

Under Women on Wheels, a government-supported project, Pakistani women are getting on their bikes in a bid overcome the barriers that limit their mobility and help widen economic and gender inequalities.

A few days ago, 35 women who had been trained to ride motorcycles participated in a rally in the city of Sargodha, in the Punjab province in Pakistan. This initiative was launched in January this year and encourages women to become independent. It also works to reduce their dependency on male relatives for daily activities and getting to school, college or work.

The rally was attended by Ingrid Johansson, the Swedish ambassador, representatives from UN Women Pakistan, local police and provincial officials. It resulted in a sight which is uncommon in Pakistan because it is something of a taboo for women to ride motorcycles there.

According to reports, the initiative is active in four districts of Punjab currently and is providing women motorcycling training. It is also expected to expand to all 36 districts of the country.

Source - AlJazeera