The Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) in Karachi has successfully launched the country’s first-ever training initiative to produce female bus drivers, with 18 women set to graduate this month.
The program aims to increase women’s participation in the public transport sector, with a vision to empower them economically. The training, initiated on November 1, covered driving skills and road safety rules using a simulator at the Motor & Highway Police training school.
The practical phase, which began in mid-December at the Mehran bus depot, involves learning to drive various buses, including electric, diesel-electric hybrid, green, and pink buses.
The graduates may be employed in the upcoming bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Karachi, showcasing a commitment to women’s empowerment and broader participation in the workforce.
Former Sindh information and transport minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader, praised the initiative on social media, emphasizing the PPP’s dedication to the socio-economic empowerment of women.
