Safe ride-sharing service for trans community in Pakistan is launched

The trans community in Pakistan has launched its first ride-sharing service, specifically designed to shield trans individuals from harassment and discrimination, as announced by the business’ founder on Wednesday.

According to ‘Indian Express’, the service SheDrives was initiated over the weekend in Lahore, the nation’s cultural centre, and is intended solely for trans people and women, according to CEO Ammaz Farooqi. The service is currently operational in Lahore, but there are plans to expand, Farooqi mentioned.

Lahore is estimated to have about 30,000 trans residents, with the community’s population reaching around 500,000 out of Pakistan's 240 million citizens. Trans individuals, especially in conservative regions, face significant discrimination, including sexual assault, violence, and murder, leading many to avoid attending schools or using public transportation to escape ridicule and harassment. Women traveling alone on mixed-gender public transport in Pakistan also encounter similar issues.

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“A unique feature of this service is that both drivers and passengers will be women and transgender individuals,” Farooqi stated, as reported by the Associated Press. The cars will feature pink logos for easy identification.

Although Farooqi is not transgender, he expressed hope for inclusivity and foresaw the service’s expansion to other cities.

Pakistan has made some progress in trans rights in recent years. In 2022, a hotline was created to connect transgender individuals with the police and the Ministry of Human Rights, and the year before, the first government-run school for transgender students opened in Multan. Furthermore, a bill was proposed to allow trans individuals to choose their gender identity on official documents, including national ID cards and educational certificates.

Despite these advancements, conservative religious groups have opposed the amendments, and human rights activists maintain that considerable efforts are still required for trans people to gain full societal acceptance.

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