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Meet Pakistan's first female auto driver

April 13, 2015 11:51 IST

She was tired of being groped and harassed by auto drivers in Lahore. So, Zara Aslam, an environmentalist did something that very few would dream of. She began her own all-female auto service.

Zar Aslam, president of Pakistan’s non-profit Environment Protection Fund, poses beside her pink rickshaw in Lahore. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters

Speaking of the incident that triggered her ‘Pink Rickshaw service’, Zara, president of Pakistan’s non-profit Environment Protection Fund said that she once narrowly escaped kidnapping by a rickshaw driver when she was a student. It was that incident that spurred this idea on.

She added that this was another step towards women’s financial and professional empowerment.

As of now, she has one auto rickshaw, but she plans to have 25 up and on the roads running by the end of the year. The rickshaw she rides now has added fans, doors, headlights and she even painted it pink and white.

Zar Aslam, plans to have 25 rickshaws on the streets by the end of this year. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters

Aslam said she is optimistic about the future of the women-only transport service in the city.

She added that they will also teach the women how to drive and help them get their driving licence.

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