The Sindh Transport Department and the Sindh Mass Transit Authority distributed 300 pink electric scooters on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The distribution ceremony was held at a local hotel in Karachi. Addressing the ceremony, Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon extended his heartfelt greetings to all women on International Women’s Day, saying that without women, we would not exist. He said that International Women’s Day is not only a day for women but also for everyone who has given birth to a woman.
He said that women were neglected in our society for a long time, but Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto created a new history by empowering women. According to him, under the leadership of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, women proved that they have the full potential to run the country. He said that today the clouds of war are hovering over the world, and in such a situation, the historic achievement of making Pakistan a nuclear power belongs to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, while the credit for giving Pakistan missile technology also goes to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the historic steps taken by the Pakistan Peoples Party for the development and empowerment of women will always be remembered in the history of Pakistan. He said that the establishment of the First Women Bank, the first police station for women, and the Lady Health Workers Program were also introduced by the PPP. He further said that the biggest social welfare project in the history of Pakistan is the Benazir Income Support Programme, which was recognized at the international level and was started during the tenure of President Asif Ali Zardari.
He said that after the floods, Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced the construction of 2.1 million houses, out of which 800,000 houses have been built, and the ownership rights of these houses have been given to women. He said that there are many opportunities and quotas for women in Sindh. He added that Faryal Talpur contested on a general seat, while Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Shazia Marri also won on general seats.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the Sindh government has established a Girls Cadet College for girls, and it is our responsibility and duty to introduce various welfare programs for women. He said that the Sindh government has started a Pink Bus Service for women, in which women drivers have also been deployed, and this unique facility is rarely seen in the world.
He said that the Sindh government is starting a program to provide five million scooties to women, and no recommendation or slip will be required for this. A permanent driving license and proof of education or employment will be required to get a scooty, while women are also being provided free driving training. He said that under this program, free scooties are being given to women so that they can get rid of petrol expenses and travel difficulties, and the aim of the Pink Scooty Program is to empower women and bring positive change in society.
He said that there is continuous propaganda against the Sindh government, but the Sindh government has carried out such historic initiatives that no one has done before. He said that generating electricity for the whole of Pakistan by extracting coal from Tharparkar is a great achievement, and even the drivers of the dumpers used to extract coal are women. He said that we want to make women self-sufficient and bring positive change in the mindset of society. He added that women have been empowered in Thar, where there are also women dumper drivers.
The ceremony was attended by Provincial Ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, and Qasim Siraj Soomro; Deputy Mayor Karachi Salman Murad; Secretary Transport Asad Zamin; members of the PPP Ladies Wing; women members of the assembly; social figures; and others. The ceremony was also addressed by Provincial Minister Shahina Sher Ali, Nafisa Shah, Sharmila Farooqui, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, and Managing Director of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority Kanwal Nizam Bhutto, among others.