KARACHI: The Sindh government is going to launch a women-only cab service in Karachi as part of its transport modernisation plan that include introduction of electric taxis.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, who also holds the portfolio of transport, while sharing the briefs of the plan on Tuesday said that the electric taxi service would be launched soon in Karachi by the Sindh Mass Transit Authority.

“It’s agreed in principle in a meeting held on Tuesday that the taxi service will be launched in two phases with a fleet of blue and pink taxis, respectively” he said, adding: “The pink taxi will be reserved for women only.”

The minister explained that in the first phase a women-only taxi service, pink taxi, will be launched and “lady captain” would be recruited to drive the vehicles.

“The fare would be between Rs200 and Rs500. Proper monitoring system including cameras will be installed in the taxis for safety of the passengers,” he said.

“The Peoples Bus Service has been quite successful in Karachi, Larkana and Hyderabad. By the end of this month, it will also be launched in Sukkur,” he said.

He said that the first electric bus service would also be launched soon in Karachi and negotiations on the agreement with operators were in final phase.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2022