Tourism in third-world Asian countries can be difficult, especially for women in a country where they are not very well respected or treated due to cultural differences. This has been in the eyes of many people who wanted to visit countries such as Pakistan as tourists but have seen that some bad apples within this beautiful garden’s nation is ruining the experience for some and even off-putting others to give it a try.
In order to
improve the chances of tourism, the Pakistani Government has created a new project
in the late 2020s that has now been strongly integrated into the country. The
pink may already give it away, but for those who may not know, what is a
rickshaw?
What Are
Pink Rickshaws?
"The
Pink Rickshaw" initiative was launched in Lahore by activist Zar
Aslam to provide women with safe transportation and economic independence.
As presented
in the photo from the start, a rickshaw is a small, three wheeled vehicles.
This of it as a motorcycle but with a body to fit in passengers. This is a big
part of the Asian culture and something that has been used for many
generations. Now for the pink part, as seen in other parts of the world, pink
taxies represent taxies that are driven by female drivers only and which take
only females or families. So sorry, but no men allowed by themselves.
Why Were
Pink Rickshaws Created?
The pink
rickshaws have been created because there have been many incidents reported
where female tourists were either physically or verbally abused by their male
drivers which has placed them in a very tough spot, some even traumatised for
life. The need for safety was important, and not just for tourists but also for
local women who had to suffer through the same fate or even worse.
Despite the
program being already a couple of years old, it faces many challenges. The main
challenge that it has seen is funding, as they are not as regularly used as the
normal rickshaws, the income may not be as good for the drivers so the
government needs to step up in helping keeping the program alive. Secondly,
there is a social resistance from the male drivers as they feel their jobs and
ability to put bread on the table are being affected from the introduction of
female only drivers, some complaining that their wages had been cut in half
since the integration of the program.
Why
Tourists Should Know About Them
In most
cases it is the women who would choose the destination for the yearly vacation
and Pakistan is a true wonder of the world with it’s colourful culture full of
history and delight. However due to some stories that have occurred in the
past, some women feel uneasy visiting such a place, that is why having such
transportations methods matter.
When you
visit a place, you want to feel comfort and most importantly safety and the
pink rickshaws serve this purpose. More interestingly, it should be known that
in more modern parts the pink rickshaws are going electric, which shows that
the program and the initiative is being pushed forward even more by the
government in Pakistan. This initiative is also being slowly implemented in
other Asia countries such as India and Egypt.
So plan your
next trip accordingly and keep in mind that taking a trip with a rickshaw, no
matter if pink or not is a cultural activity. Keep in mind that Taxiyo can help
you book such services in accordance to your trip.
