Pink buses have been launched in Islamabad on August 7 to offer reliable, safe and free of charge transportation service to students and teachers of the city.
The pink buses, with the slogan “Na Dar, Na Rukawat” (“No Fear, No Obstacle”), aim to give women and female students a safe and easy travel option. This project will help connect rural areas with urban centers and schools across Islamabad.
The initiative has been introduced by Pakistan’s Ministry of Education and Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) to address transportation issues in the country that often serve as a barrier to girls’ education. The initiative has been launched amid the educational institutions facing a shortage of buses to cater to the needs of all students, particularly those traveling from rural areas to get education in urban schools and colleges.
Number of buses and routes
A total of 20 buses will service various locations around Islamabad. These buses will operate on five different routes, including Taxila to B17, Rawat, Peer Wadai, Chak Shahzad, and additional destinations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the federal government and the Ministry of Education will cover all the costs for the project.
Bus Timings
The buses are scheduled to run during school timings, from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM in the morning and 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM in the afternoon.
Islamabad Pink Bus Routes
The designated routes of Islamabad Pink Bus are as follows:
- Route 1-A: Nilore to F-11/1 FGCH&E&MS
- Route 1-B: Nilore (Ziarat Stop) to Secretariat
- Route 2-A: Bhara Kau to F-11/1 FGCH&E&MS (via F-6)
- Route 2-B: Bhara Kau to F-11/1 FGCH&E&MS (via G-6)
- Route 3-A: Humak to Secretariat
- Route 3-B: Humak to F-11/1 FGCH&E&MS
- Route 4-A: I-14 (IJP Road) to Secretariat
- Route 4-B: I-14 (IJP Road) to F-11/1 FGCH&E&MS
- Route 5-A: B-17 to Secretariat (via Margalla Avenue)
- Route 5-B: B-17 to Secretariat (via GT Road, G-14)
How many students will benefit from the bus service?
Pink buses will be transporting around 8,000 to 10,000 female students and teachers every day, according to Mohyuddin Wani, secretary for the Education Ministry.
Students and teachers praise the initiative
Saba Faisal, Principal of ICG Islamabad, praised the initiative, saying it is very important for women’s convenience. She said that the pink bus service would safely transport girls, female teachers, and other working women from rural areas to urban centers. Faisal said the tagline, “No Fear, No Barrier,” perfectly captures the spirit of the project.
According to Zulfiqar Ali Sameen, Deputy Secretary of MoU, the aim of the free pink bus service is to use some of the buses that were either unused or had minor issues in some schools.
The ministry spokesman said that high fares and fear of harassment in public buses, especially in rural areas, have stopped many girls from going to school. While Islamabad already has free school buses for girls, they usually do not reach areas outside the city.
“We hope that many girls will return to school with this initiative,” the spokesman said.
Harassment in public transportation is a common problem in this traditional South Asian country. In the metro lines of larger cities, there are already women-only compartments, but men often use them too. The new bus line will duly address these issues.
Pink buses were first introduced in Karachi, in January last year, but without a specific focus on female students. However, Islamabad’s initiative is unique because it focuses on rural areas and specifically serves female teachers and students.