Lahore for women

Lahore's story was once written through its gardens, literature, architecture, food and culture. Yet for millions of women, the city is narrated differently. It is a city of calculations: Which route is safest? Will public transport be reliable? Is it too late to return home? Should another career opportunity be declined simply because the journey feels unsafe?

The incumbent Punjab government has taken several encouraging steps to modernise Lahore. Investments in public transport, road infrastructure, digital governance, women-friendly policing and improved public spaces reflect a willingness to build a better city. These efforts deserve recognition. But a lasting legacy will depend on what its female residents feel about their safety.

There is an important distinction between safety and the perception of safety. Crime statistics are important, but lived experiences matter just as much. A woman who avoids parks after sunset, changes her daily route, declines evening classes or employment opportunities, or depends on male relatives simply to move around the city is not truly free, regardless of what official figures may suggest. Lahore should not merely become a smarter city; it should become South Asia's model city for women - not only in official statistics but in how women actually experience everyday life. Unfortunately, on that measure, the city still has considerable ground to cover.

Around the world, cities are beginning to rethink this approach. Better street lighting, mixed-use neighbourhoods, gender-sensitive transport systems, emergency call infrastructure and inclusive public spaces have significantly improved women's mobility and confidence.

Technology offers an equally significant opportunity. Lahore already possesses much of the digital infrastructure required to transform public safety. Smart CCTV systems integrated with rapid-response units, AI to identify harassment hotspots, mobile safety applications linked directly to emergency services, panic buttons at transport stations and better coordination between police, transport authorities and local governments can substantially improve both safety and public confidence. The challenge is no longer technology; it is integration and prioritisation.

Public transport deserves particular attention. Metro Bus and Orange Line have transformed mobility for thousands of citizens, but every journey begins before a passenger boards a bus or train and continues long after she steps off. Women must safely walk to stations, wait comfortably and complete the final stretch to their destinations.

Women are entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, teachers, researchers, artists and students who contribute enormously to the city's economy. Yet countless families continue restricting women's education or employment because of safety concerns rather than capability. Every woman forced to withdraw from education or the workforce represents not only a personal loss but a loss to Punjab's productivity, innovation and long-term economic growth.

Infrastructure alone, however, cannot solve the problem. Public spaces are shaped as much by behaviour as by buildings. Schools must teach respect, empathy and responsible citizenship from an early age.

One practical reform would be to establish a Women's Liveability Index for Lahore to evaluate women's perceptions of safety, ease of mobility, accessibility of healthcare, quality of public transport, availability of safe public spaces, workplace accessibility, recreational opportunities and overall confidence in navigating the city independently. Such an evidence-based tool would help policymakers identify gaps, allocate resources more effectively and measure progress where it matters most in women's everyday lives. There is no reason it cannot now lead the country by becoming the safest and most inclusive city for women, especially with a female Chief Minister.

The Punjab government has already begun moving in the right direction. It should now think more ambitiously to build a city where every woman feels that Lahore belongs to her as much as it belongs to anyone else.