In Lahore’s bustling streets, 22-year-old Laiba Rashid is on a journey to redefine mobility and independence. As a participant in the Women on Wheels (WOW) programme, offered free by the Lahore Traffic Police, Rashid is learning to ride a motorcycle, a skill she hopes will change her life.
“I am dependent on my brother to get to college, but this training will make me independent,” Laiba Rashid shared on her first day of training. In her family, no woman had ever driven a motorcycle. “Now, everyone is convinced that women should move freely to schools, jobs, and markets.”
While women riding motorcycles remains a rare sight in Pakistan, cultural attitudes are gradually shifting. Traditionally, it has been more acceptable for women to drive cars or ride as passengers on motorcycles driven by male relatives.
Bushra Iqbal Hussain, a social activist and director of Safe Childhood, notes that women riding motorcycles has long been seen as a cultural and religious taboo. “But women are changing this mindset, just as they did with cars in the 1980s,” she said, emphasizing the push for reduced dependence on men for commuting.
The WOW programme, established in 2017, has trained over 6,600 women. Female trainer Humaira Rafaqat, a senior traffic warden, highlighted the diversity among trainees. “Young women are quick learners, they’re enthusiastic and willing to take risks,” said Rafaqat, who has trained about 1,000 women.
For some participants, the experience is life-changing. Ghania Raza, 23, pursuing a doctorate in criminology, described learning to ride as “breaking a glass ceiling.” Meanwhile, 36-year-old Shumaila Shafiq, a mother of three and part-time fashion designer, now uses her husband’s motorcycle for errands. She even designed a short-length abaya to make riding safer. “The traditional abaya poses risks as it can get caught in the wheels,” Shumaila Shafiq explained, adding that she plans to market her innovative design.
The rising popularity of motorcycles among women is also linked to economic factors. With car prices soaring, Pakistan’s cheapest four-wheeler costs 2.3 million rupees ($8,265), while a basic motorcycle costs about 115,000 rupees ($415, motorcycles have become the only viable option for many households.
“Stagnant wages and high inflation have eroded middle-class purchasing power,” said Muhammad Abrar Polani, an auto sector analyst. Motorcycles offer a practical, affordable solution.
As programmes like WOW gain momentum, more women are taking control of their mobility and challenging societal norms. For Rashid and many others, learning to ride a motorcycle is more than a skill, it’s a step toward freedom and empowerment.
