Oxford-LUMS and Punjab Police Collaborate to Empower Women Rickshaw Drivers
This collaboration, backed by the University of Oxford and key microfinance institutions, aims to empower women by creating income opportunities and ensuring safe transportation. The project, supported by MIT's Abdul-Jameel Poverty Action Lab, is set to promote cultural shifts and enhance women's participation in the workforce and public life in Pakistan.
Karobar
LAHORE: The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has teamed up with the City Traffic Police Lahore to deliver comprehensive rickshaw driving training to women as part of the groundbreaking "Female Rickshaw Project." This initiative is the result of a collaboration between the University of Oxford and leading microfinance institutions, including the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), Akhuwat, and the Rural Community Development Programme (RCDP).
The project has secured funding from the Gender Equality and Access (GEA) initiative of the Abdul-Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Under the guidance of CTO-Lahore Capt Mustansar Feroze (retd), the City Traffic Police Lahore has already provided training to 35 women. A dedicated team of four female officers has been deployed to impart knowledge on traffic laws, regulations, and driving skills. The traffic police department has also facilitated the female trainees in obtaining their driver's licenses.
The primary goal of this initiative is to open up income-generating opportunities and provide a secure mode of transportation for women.
Dr. Kashif Z. Malik, an Associate Professor at LUMS, shared his insights, saying, "The 'Female Rickshaw Project' holds a multitude of advantages for women, ranging from economic empowerment to financial independence and improved mobility. Female rickshaw drivers will play a pivotal role in making transportation safer for women and serve as inspirational role models for others. This project is a significant contributor to the ongoing cultural shift and the increased participation of women in the workforce and public spaces."
