Sindh govt announces free 'pink scooters' for women

The Sindh government has announced a scheme to award free ‘pink scooters’ to women through a lottery system, aimed at empowering female commuters in the province, Express News reported on Thursday.

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon unveiled the initiative during a press conference in Karachi, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting women’s mobility.

“A driving licence is mandatory for women to participate in the scheme,” Memon said, adding that the lucky draw would be held at an open event.

The initiative follows the provincial government’s launch of the ‘Pink Bus’ service in 2023, dedicated to female passengers.

Memon also announced plans to introduce a ‘pink taxi’ service, with women drivers behind the wheel.

The minister said the schemes aimed to promote women’s independence and provide safe transportation options.

Moreover, the minister announced that all vehicles in Sindh will be registered under a unified system.

The announcement comes amid rising traffic-related casualties in the provincial capital, where more than 130 people have died and over 1,800 injured in accidents this year, according to reports.

In comparison, nearly 500 fatalities were recorded in 2024. The spike in accidents has triggered protests, with angry mobs setting vehicles involved in collisions on fire.

Memon said the Sindh government had formed a committee to address road safety concerns, while proceeds from auctioning number plates would be transferred to the provincial government.

“The decision will help streamline vehicle registration across the province,” Memon said at a press conference.

He also criticised the federal government, claiming Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had promised 180 buses for Karachi but none were included in the federal budget for 2025.

“We will write a letter to the Prime Minister, urging him to fulfil his promise,” Memon added.

The minister announced the Sindh cabinet had approved the Dow Science Foundation’s establishment and sanctioned additional buses for the province. The cabinet also approved the K-IV water project for Keenjhar Lake and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Line project.