Pink Scooty Scheme: New Condition Announced for Women

KARACHI (Qudrat Daily) — An important condition has emerged for women wishing to obtain a free electric scooty under the Sindh government’s Pink Scooty Scheme. Provincial Minister for Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon has clarified that women holding only a learner’s license will not be given a scooty; rather, only women who possess a permanent driving license and have passed the driving test will be eligible for this facility.

According to Sharjeel Memon, the Sindh government’s electric scooty programme is ongoing to provide travel facilities to women and to make them autonomous. Officially, the scheme has also been presented as a step to improve women’s mobility and their access to education and employment.

The Provincial Minister stated that at the time the scheme was launched, only 154 women across Sindh held driving licenses; however, more than 50,000 women have now applied for driving licenses. According to him, even if the number of applying women reaches 50,000, the government is prepared to provide scooties according to that number.

The government is also providing driving training for women receiving scooties. At the launch of the programme in March, Sharjeel Memon had said that applicant women would require a permanent driving license and proof of education or employment, while free driving training would also be provided to women.

According to current information about the government scheme, the Pink Scooty programme is reserved solely for women applicants, while widows, single mothers, working women and female students have also been mentioned as being given priority. After scrutiny of applications, the final selection is made through a transparent ballot.

Sharjeel Memon also warned about the misuse of scooties. According to him, complaints have surfaced that some individuals had the Pink Scooty repainted and gave it for use by men. It has been announced that surprise checking will be started in this matter, and if a scooty is found in use by a man, it will be confiscated.

The Sindh government is expanding the programme to more areas of the province. In the recent phase, free Pink Scooties have also been distributed among women in Mirpurkhas, while previously women in Karachi, Sukkur and Hyderabad have also been provided scooties.