dear fellows,
Nice discussion going on. I am associated with teaching profession. Let me share some
points from my experience which i've seen. The transport facilities which are provided
in Lahore are not available to every city in Punjab. Many students also come from rural
area (sub rubs around the city) where no formal transportation is available. I've seen
females riding stone age 'Ford vans' to get to the GT road. In such vans with a capacity
of 8 people 25 people are loaded like luggage and there is no separate seating
arrangements for female students.
+ I saw city travel buses in Gujranwala are always overloaded and females many a times
have to travel in the males compartment. I always wish that Pakistan should invent cheep
cars just like India Tata Nano or may be less than that for people travelling on such
transport available. I dont know why govt (govt research institutes) dont make such a
cheep vehicle and do mass production of it to facilitate general public.
I mean a car with capacity of four persons and a top speed of 50-60 in price range of
under 1lack rupees will be ideal for middle class families of Pakistan which cannot
afford the simplest car available in 0.65 million rupees (mehran). That effort is really
necessary.
It would have been better if rather than scooty a car with a capacity of two persons and
top speed of 40 would have been introduced for female students in Punjab. However,
something is better than nothing. Though there are few aspects which goes to the -ve
side as per the social norms here in Pakistan. But I see a positive side as well, it
will facilitate many students to avoid frustratig means of transportation as well. But I
think rather than battery powered, they should have been fuel powered as electricity is
very costly in Pakistan.... UPS charge karne se bill itna ziada atta he.... what to say
about charging a scooty daily....
In citites of Punjab now, most of our educated youth (both males and females) opt a
career and in the initial 5 years it's hard to afford a car (until/unless provided by the
employer). So men choose to go to office on bikes(being a cheep means of communication)
and females have to bear the local transport which is pathetic in many cities around
Punjab. aik do din ki baat ho to local hazam ho jati he but going office daily on local
transport is a headache ..... so if the trend change in Punjab that female students drive
scooties then definately on job girls will also have the opportunity to go on
bikes/scooty to office.
But I agree that better would had been to introduce cheep cars with capacity of 2 person
and with capacity of 4 persons (NESCOM may be assigned the tast to research and produce
two such vehicles). Four wheels are safer than two wheels and is better option for
females with respect to Hijab and Pakistani culture.
regards,