Insufficient transport facilities and cramped spaces in public transport between the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have added to the miseries of women commuters.
“Public transport plying on the route from Rawalpindi to Islamabad and back does not cater to the needs of citizens, particularly government employees, as the presence of wagons and buses is scarce and this shortage has become a huge problem for women commuters,” said Saira, a working woman at the Sadiq Abad wagon stop.
“There is very little room allotted for ladies in all wagons and buses, as only two women can travel at a time in a wagon on the front seat,” said Khadija, a government employee, “we have to wait for hours at wagon terminals and when a wagon finally comes, only the luckiest women can find seats amidst all the jostling and pushing.”
“Public transport drivers start jeering and leering at us when they find us left at their mercy,” said a group of ladies.
They demanded an increase in women’s seats in public transport to mitigate their woes.
