ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday inaugurated a women-only pink bus service in Mardan district aimed at providing safe, reliable and economical transportation for women of the conservative northwestern region.
A total of 14 buses have been procured with financial assistance from the government of Japan and technical support from the United Nations Office for Project Services, an operational arm of the United Nations, and UN Women. UNOPS has also constructed 16 bus stops in Mardan through which the buses will be operated.
“Seven buses will operate in Mardan starting 4th April 2019, through specific bus stops, for exclusive use by women and accompanying children,” UN Women Pakistan said in a statement. “Seven more buses under the project will start operation in Abbottabad later this month.”
Sexual and other types of harassment on buses often deter women, especially in Pakistan’s conservative northwestern regions, to stay home and avoid public transportation, thus giving up on opportunities for education and work.
“An estimated 64% of women in Mardan use private transportation as an alternative,” the UN statement said. “Women who cannot afford private transportation are forced to forfeit opportunities for education and employment.”
Speaking at the launch ceremony for the new bus service, Samita Khawar, UNOPS Pakistan Country Manager UNOPS, thanked the government of Japan for the financial assistance for the project and the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for owning it.
“This initiative aims to protect women during travel and reduces the risk of being a potential victim. It will provide safe, secure and comfortable transport to the women of Mardan,” Khawar said.
Since safety was the primary concern for women traveling alone, Khawar said, with the support of UN Women Pakistan, the buses had been equipped with a safety app connected to CCTV cameras installed in the buses. Gender sensitization training modules have also been developed for the staff engaged in operations of the buses.
“We are excited to see the operationalization of busses and hope that this temporary special measure will increase women’s mobility and also pave the way for behavioral change in society to make existing infrastructure more responsive to women’s needs,” Zainab Khan, Head of Sub-Office UN Women Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said.
Women-only buses hit the road in Pakistan’s Mardan district
Women-only buses hit the road in Pakistan’s Mardan district
- Seven buses will operate in Mardan starting April 4 for exclusive use by women and accompanying children
- Seven more buses will start operations in Abbottabad later this month, all buses fitted with safety app connected to CCTV cameras
Chinese giant Hoymiles enters Pakistani market to provide high-tech energy storage solutions
- The development comes after Pakistan emerges as one of world’s fastest-growing solar markets, importing nearly 50GW of solar panels
- Hoymiles entry will address long-hour backup and energy storage challenges facing Pakistan’s growing solar sector, local partner says
KARACHI: Renowned Chinese inverter manufacturer Hoymiles has entered Pakistan to provide high-tech, long-duration energy storage solutions for residential, commercial and industrial buildings by utilizing solar systems for electricity consumption, its Pakistani partner said on Monday.
Over the past few years, a large number of Pakistani industrial, commercial and residential electricity consumers have shifted to solar power systems to address frequent power outages and the rising cost of electricity. Reports indicate that net-metering capacity currently stands at 6,000 megawatts (MWs), while off-grid solar capacity has increased to 12,000 MWs in Pakistan by the end of 2025.
Hoymiles has formed strategic partnerships with Superstar, a renowned name in Pakistan’s automotive industry, and Harisun Energy, a new entrant in the energy solutions sector, to explore the Pakistani market, which is witnessing rapid growth in solar power adoption. In this regard, launch events were held simultaneously in Karachi and Lahore, unveiling multiple storage solutions produced by Hoymiles under the brands of Harisun Energy and Superstar.
Speaking as the chief guest at the Hoymiles launching ceremony in Karachi, Ali Rashid, advisor to Sindh chief minister on science and information technology (IT), said the provincial government appreciates foreign investors, particularly Chinese companies, establishing their industries, assembly, and distribution units in Karachi to meet the demand of the local market as well as export solutions to other countries.
“The government is working rigorously to facilitate foreign investors and companies to enhance their business and commercial activities, mainly in the technology and renewable energy sectors, to improve the living standards of the public and boost economic activity within the country and the province of Sindh,” he said.
The Sindh government is currently collaborating with various Chinese companies across different sectors, including logistics and renewable energy, and it welcomes further cooperation between the private and public sectors, according to Rashid.
The provincial government is considering establishing its own regulatory authority and transmission company, aimed at setting up a separate electricity grid system at the provincial level, which could provide affordable electricity to the masses and enhance connectivity to remote areas, preferably through renewable energy resources.
According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Pakistan has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing solar markets, importing approximately 50 GW of solar panels amid falling prices and widespread adoption across sectors in the first half of the year. This surge has made Pakistan the third-largest market for Chinese solar panels, a growth that has attracted global attention.
Superstar Solar Energy and Harisun Energy are introducing Hoymiles’ innovative range of solar inverters, energy storage solutions, and smart energy management systems to the Pakistani market. These solutions are designed to deliver reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy, empowering individuals and businesses to harness solar power as a clean and green energy source.
“Pakistan’s growing solar sector is facing a major challenge related to long-hour backup and energy storage solutions, which will soon be addressed with the entry of a global leader in energy solutions,” said Haris Jamsheed, CEO of Harisun Energy.
“Our partnership with the Chinese company will provide innovative energy storage solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial solar systems, enabling uninterrupted electricity supply at workplaces, factories, and homes during nighttime hours.”
Solarization has continued to expand across the country on a large scale due to prolonged load-shedding in remote areas and the high cost of electricity, which has become unaffordable for many households and industrial units, particularly in recent years.
“We have vowed to bring an energy revolution to Pakistan through innovative storage solutions, as the industrial and commercial sectors can enhance productivity with low-cost electricity backup systems,” said Saleem Umar, Chairman of Superstar.
“Affordable electricity will reduce operational costs at the domestic level, enabling exporters to compete more effectively in global markets.”
