ISLAMABAD: In an extraordinary step towards empowering women and encouraging their active engagement in society, the federal government of Pakistan has unveiled an initiative known as the Prime Minister’s ‘Women on Wheels’ programme.
This initiative, a testament to visionary thinking, will afford a remarkable opportunity to twenty-two thousand women across the country who are employed in the government’s orange sector, including both working women and students. They will have the chance to procure their very own scooters and motorcycles at a discounted rate.
The far-reaching objective of this initiative is to endow women with heightened mobility and autonomy, liberating them from the constraints of relying on public transportation.
Nilofar Bakhtiar, Chairperson of the National Commission for Poverty Alleviation, disclosed the news, underscoring the fact that an impressive allocation of five billion rupees has been earmarked for the successful implementation of this transformative programme.
The process of allotting the scooters will be undertaken with the utmost transparency, ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all eligible women who are willing to participate.
The ‘Women on Wheels’ project is poised to commence nationwide in the near future, encompassing the entirety of the federation.
Women aged between 18 and 55, who fulfill the eligibility criteria, will have the opportunity to apply for this benefit.
Nilofar Bakhtiar further said that each province will receive 4,000 scooters, while Islamabad will be bestowed with 4,100. Additionally, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) will receive 1,000 scooters, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) will also reap the benefits of this pioneering programme.
Spanning over a period of three years, this programme will enable a substantial number of women to attain self-sufficiency and enhanced mobility, thereby augmenting their socioeconomic standing.
Elucidating the eligibility criteria, Neelofar Bakhtiar explained that women who earn between 30,000 to 1.5 lakh rupees are deemed eligible to apply. Furthermore, the programme acknowledges and seeks to support the endeavours of working women, students, polio health workers, and women journalists, recognizing their indispensable contributions to the nation’s economic development.
