Sindh govt to provide Pink EV Scooties to 50,000 women: Sharjeel Memon

MIRPURKHAS, Sep 26 (APP): Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon on Saturday said empowering women was central to the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, as he addressed a ceremony for the distribution of free Pink EV Scooties among women.

Sharjeel Memon said Benazir Bhutto had launched several initiatives aimed at women’s empowerment, including the Lady Health Workers Programme and the First Women Bank. He said women in Sindh were now more empowered and independent than in the past.

He said that after Benazir Bhutto’s martyrdom, President Asif Ali Zardari launched the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) for deserving women. Under the programme, identity cards were issued to a large number of women, which also contributed to an increase in the number of registered voters.

The minister said women leaders, including Faryal Talpur, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Nafisa Shah and Shazia Marri, were serving in the assemblies on general seats. He added that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari had issued special directives for women’s empowerment. Pink taxis for women would also be launched soon as part of measures aimed at promoting women’s development and empowerment.

Sharjeel Memon said Hari Cards were being issued to farmers and Labour Cards to workers, adding that Sindh was making progress in various sectors, including health, education and Thar coal development.

He said the Pink EV Scooties were being distributed among women without discrimination. He added that the number of women obtaining driving licences, which had previously been very low, was now increasing rapidly as fathers and brothers were increasingly allowing women in their families to ride motorcycles.

“I want to make it clear that the process of providing Pink Scooties to women will not stop,” he said, adding that the provincial government aimed to provide EV Scooties to 50,000 women who obtained driving licences.

The senior minister warned that action would be taken against any man found using a Pink Scooty. He said Sindh was the only province in the country providing free EV Scooties to women. Eligible women were being provided the vehicles after completing training and passing the required test, and the initiative would be extended to women in every district of Sindh.

He said women were playing an active role in every sphere of life and the Pakistan Peoples Party would continue taking measures aimed at empowering them.

Sharjeel Memon also said the Pakistan Peoples Party had made what he described as historic contributions towards enhancing Pakistan’s standing in the world. He said the Constitution of Pakistan, missile technology and the country’s nuclear programme were among the outcomes of the PPP’s efforts.

He said the PPP had played an important role in strengthening Pakistan’s defence through the development of its nuclear programme and other defence capabilities. He added that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s stance on India had received appreciation internationally.

Provincial Minister for Culture Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare Mir Tariq Talpur, MPAs Imdad Pitafi, Qasim Siraj Soomro, Ali Hassan Hingorjo and Khair-un-Nisa Mughal, District Council Chairman Mir Anwar Ali Talpur, Mayor Abdul Rauf Ghori, Deputy Commissioner Nawab Sameer Hussain, Secretary Transport Asad Zamin, Managing Director Transport Behzad Memon, Deputy Director Transport Rafee Ali Leghari, journalists and others attended the ceremony.