‘Pink Shuttles’ help Afghan women navigate society
KABUL: Parisa Haidary gets behind the steering wheel of a mini-bus, kicks off her high heels and with a socked foot presses the accelerator, carefully easing the 10-seater into Kabul’s ever-clogged traffic.
The Afghan mother, who works for a women-only bus service, smiles as other road-users – all of them men – gawp in astonishment.
“We get a lot of different reactions,” she says.
“Some drivers block our way, others honk at us, some even drive alongside at the same speed when the road is clear.”
In an ultra-patriarchal society where it remains rare to see a woman behind the wheel, Haidary is one of four drivers working for Pink Shuttle, a pilot bus programme employing only women to ferry female passengers and their kids across the Afghan capital.
“I love driving and am interested in my job. The only concern we have is the security situation. We have to stay fearless,” Haidary said.
The 36-year-old former beautician, who has also worked as a television journalist, and her colleagues were chosen from 100 candidates.
The first-of-its kind service is helping women navigate the many challenges they face getting around Kabul, where a woeful lack of transport options is compounded by the risk of harassment on the streets.
“We have transportation problems for women. In fact, public transportation does not exist, especially for women in Kabul,” project coordinator Obaidullah Amiri said.
Pink Shuttle is being run by Nove Onlus, an Italian non-governmental group that in turn is being supported by the Only The Brave foundation, created by fashion designer Renzo Rosso.
Amiri said the pilot project, which started in May and also receives backing from the US Agency for International Development, is set to be extended.
While the service is currently being offered for free to a limited number of pre-approved passengers, Nove Onlus hopes it will become financially sustainable within two years.
According to Khan Mohammad Shinwaray, police chief at Kabul’s traffic department, the number of women drivers in the capital has been steadily growing, with 275 licences approved for the first half of the year.