Tharparkar sisters take the bull by the handlebars

While the sight of women riding motorbikes in mega cities is about as rare as a blue moon, two sisters in Sindh’s Tharparkar district are throwing caution to the wind and freely riding their two wheelers without fear.

Urooj Fatima, 20, learnt to rid two-wheelers while she was still completing her matriculation. She used her bike as an easy means of transportation to school and college. “My father taught me and encouraged me,” Fatima says.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Fatima adds she has recently obtained her driving license. “I am the first girl in Tharparkar who got a driving license for my motorbike,” she boasts.  Fatima also helps her family buy groceries from Mithi’s market and also uses her motorbike to visit other parts of the city.

In the last one year, Fatima has gone to Mirpurkhas city which is about 140 km away. “Long traveling is a thrill and I enjoy it,” she smiles.

Fatima’s elder sister, Khanzadi, works with the Thar Education Alliance (TEA) and often travels to far flung areas of the desert region. To get rid herself of transport issues and having to wait for male drivers to help her visit villages, Khanzadi sought Fatima’s help and recently learnt how to ride as well.

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“We both travel together,” Khanzadi says. “It is not so difficult to learn and ride on it,” she adds. “We work on women empowerment and it encourages rural women when they see us riding motorbikes fearlessly,” Khanzadi says with a hint of pride in her voice.

Inspired by her rides, two of young girls from Mithi city have approached Fatima to help them learn. “I have been teaching them in our street for the last couple of weeks,” she informs. “Our father and brothers support us. They do not object,” Khanzadi says.

Narrating her story, Khanzadi reveals that in her tribe, it is only her family that supports girls to get education. “We are lucky enough that my father is a political worker and knows our rights,” she adds.

When they ride motorbikes on roads, Fatima and Khanzadi face different kind of attitudes. “We get encouraging comments from people on the road,” Fatima says. “Even some police and Rangers officials salute us and proudly look at us,” she adds.

Fatima will join the University of Sindh next month and plans to ride on campus. “I hope students and faculty will not block my way to ride the motorbike.”

Commenting on girls on wheels, TEA CEO Partab Shivani says these sisters visit villages and convince parents to send their daughters to schools.” He adds that Fatima is voluntarily working with his organisation. “This is a participatory approach. It’s a huge and visible change that our girls can do anything if they are given space,” he adds.