Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced the procurement of 1,000 pink electric motorcycles for women along with the acquisition of double-decker buses and electric vehicles (EVs) for Karachi, a statement from the CM’s spokesperson said.
These motorcycles will significantly contribute to enhanced mobility and independence for women, promote economic empowerment, break gender stereotypes, and improve safety and security.
Presiding over a cabinet meeting in the Chief Minister House today, Shah made several decisions, including the procurement of pink electric motorcycles for women, the acquisition of double-decker buses and electronic venicles (EVs) for the city, and the immediate improvement of Keejhar Lake and the KalriBaghar (KB) Feeder to provide water for the K-IV project.
“The cabinet was informed that the Transport and Sindh Mass Transit Authority (T&MTD) plans to launch a programme aimed at enhancing female mobility through sustainable transportation,” the statement from the CM’s spokesperson, Rasheed Channa, said.
“This initiative will introduce approximately 1,000 electric motorcycles for women, which will be allocated through an open and transparent balloting process. The initiative requires Rs300 million to be obtained outside the budget.
“Distribution will occur via a transparent open balloting process in the presence of media, subject to the following qualification criteria: The applicant must be a permanent resident of Sindh; the applicant must be a student or a working female; the applicant must hold a valid two-wheeler driving license; the applicant cannot sell the electric motorcycle for a period of seven years,” according to the statement.
The cabinet noted that an increasing number of women worldwide were opting for electric motorcycles as their primary mode of transport for daily commuting.“Key factors driving this demand include greater mobility, cost-effectiveness compared to cars or public transport, eco-friendliness, and minimal maintenance,” it said.
The cabinet also decided that the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) would procure the EV motorcycles through competitive bidding from one or more manufacturers, contingent on price and maintenance factors, the statement added.
Separately, the cabinet was informed that the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) planned to procure 50 public transport buses for Karachi, including 15 double-decker buses and 35 electric buses.
