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
Pakistan’s Pak-Qatar Family Takaful to raise $3.9 million in Islamic insurance IPO
- Company to offer 50 million shares with a price band of $0.05–0.07 per share
- Proceeds to support capital needs, digital expansion, new customer-focused products
ISLAMABAD: Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited, Pakistan’s largest dedicated Islamic insurance provider, will launch an initial public offering this month to raise about Rs1.1 billion ($3.9 million), with book-building scheduled for Dec. 11–12 and registration opening Dec. 8, the company said in a statement on Friday.
The offer will make Pak-Qatar the first dedicated family takaful operator to list on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, marking a notable development for the country’s insurance landscape, where penetration remains low by global standards. The IPO comes as the company looks to scale operations, strengthen technology channels and widen product distribution in a market where Shariah-compliant savings and protection instruments have grown steadily.
“Pak Qatar Family Takaful Limited is all set to list itself at Pakistan Stock Exchange through an IPO with registration starting 08th December. Through this IPO PQFTL is aiming to raise approx. Rs. 1.1 billion,” the statement said.
The company will offer 50 million shares, starting at a floor price of Rs14 per share ($0.05), with a ceiling of Rs21 per share ($0.07). Of the total issue, 37.5 million shares will be allocated to institutional investors, while 12.5 million shares will be offered to the general public.
Lead manager Shahid Ali Habib of Arif Habib Ltd. said investor response has been strong as the offering represents a sector first. According to the statement, proceeds will be used to meet capital requirements, develop new products and accelerate digital outreach.
Pak-Qatar Family Takaful is the country’s first and largest dedicated shariah-compliant family risk-protection provider, holding 44 percent of the total family takaful market and more than 90 percent of the fully dedicated segment, with a nationwide presence of 73 branches and 1,971 field representatives.
Despite Pakistan’s population size, insurance penetration stood at just 0.7 percent in 2024, the company noted, adding that rising awareness and economic shifts leave room for growth compared with advanced markets where penetration has crossed 10%.
