Why one government is giving women free pink electric mopeds

The Sindh government in Pakistan has just launched a bold new initiative aimed at transforming mobility for women: a fleet of free pink electric scooters for female students and working women. Called the Free Pink EV Scooty Scheme, the program is designed to offer women across the province a safer, more dignified, and cost-effective way to get to school or work without relying on crowded, often unsafe public transportation.

Like many countries in the region, Pakistan is a deeply patriarchal society, not historically known for gender equality or freedom. That has meant that despite women technically having equal standing under the law, they often face significant challenges accessing safe and reliable transportation, let alone gaining higher education or entering the workforce.

Announced by Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon, the initiative goes beyond transportation to empower women seeking to enroll in education or join the workforce in the nation’s second-largest province.

Eligible participants include women who are permanent residents of Sindh, hold a valid driver’s license (car or motorcycle), and are either employed or in school. Winners will be selected via a public, lottery-style balloting system conducted in front of media and overseen by multiple government departments. To ensure safety, selected applicants will also need to pass a road skills test before riding off.

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“We have ensured a transparent and merit-based selection process so that the maximum number of women can benefit,” said Sindh Minister of Transport Sharjeel Memon, who emphasized that the project will cut commuting costs, save time, and increase safety for women on the move.

But the program doesn’t stop at just handing over keys. It includes full registration, insurance, helmets, and even rider training. Riders will also have access to an expanding network of EV charging stations throughout Sindh, making this a fully supported electric mobility solution.

By investing in personal electric transportation for women, the government hopes to improve access to education and employment, reduce reliance on gas-powered public transport, and promote sustainability. It’s a major step for a region where mobility remains a significant barrier to opportunity for many women, and one that may serve as a model for similar programs across the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond.

Electrek’s Take

I think the fact that electric scooters are being used as a tool to provide transportation equality and increased accessibility is a great thing here, and highlights the importance of these types of vehicles in the broader mobility ecosystem. The whole “let’s give the women a bunch of pink scooters” definitely sounds like an idea thought up by a man, but I think their hearts were in the right place.

In much of Pakistan, especially in conservative and rural areas, women face significant challenges in accessing safe and reliable transportation. Public transport can be overcrowded, unsafe, or socially restrictive for women, which in turn limits their access to education and employment opportunities. By offering these free e-scooters, the government is trying to empower women with greater autonomy and freedom of movement, thereby increasing their participation in both the academic and economic spheres.

There are obviously huge strides that still need to be made in many similar countries in order for women to feel safe when out of the home, let alone have access to employment and educational opportunities, but it sounds like this program is working towards addressing those issues.

Note: The lead image is AI-generated, but then again, so is the Sindh Government’s image. So we’re just sort of sticking with the theme, there.