Pakistan’s transgender community now has its own ride-sharing service, SheDrives, which aims to shield trans individuals from discrimination and harassment. Launched in Lahore over the weekend, this service exclusively caters to women and transgender people, as stated by the company’s CEO, Ammaz Farooqi.
Initially available only in Lahore, there are plans for expansion, Farooqi noted. The new ride-share service has been warmly welcomed by the transgender community, who hope it will decrease the harassment they face while traveling.
Lahore, home to around 30,000 transgender individuals, is part of Pakistan’s estimated transgender population of 500,000 within a 240 million total population. Many trans people in Pakistan, particularly in conservative regions, face significant discrimination, abuse, and violence. Public transport often exposes them to ridicule and harassment.
The SheDrives service will feature vehicles marked with pink logos, making them identifiable to its users. “A unique aspect of this app and ride service is that the drivers and passengers will be women and transgender persons,” Farooqi explained.
Saro Imran, a trans activist, applauded the initiative and suggested that the government should also provide loans for motorcycles and cars to further reduce harassment. “Men deliberately touch us when we walk on the streets or travel in public transport,” she said.
Samina Khawar, a university student, expressed her satisfaction with the new service, sharing her experience of having previously been deceived by a man pretending to be transgender. She reported the incident to the police, leading to his arrest.
Punjab traffic police are offering special driving classes for transgender people and women, aiming to provide respectful and equal opportunities, according to spokesperson Mohammad Mubashir.
In recent years, Pakistan has made strides in supporting transgender individuals, including establishing a hotline, opening a government school for trans students, and proposing a transgender rights bill. However, challenges remain, with ongoing controversy and opposition from hardline clerics.
