With an aim to promote drive of safe mobility for women and preventing harassment of women at the public places, UN Women Agency, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) in Islamabad.
“With nearly half of workforce of Pakistan comprising of women, that often feel bared to fully contribute in the society and economic prosperity, due to perceived and real hazards faced during transportation. It is every woman and girl’s right that they are provided with the same opportunity to travel freely and without fear of being harassed,” read an official statement.
Recognising the importance of women’s and girls’ freedom of movement and right to harassment-free life, the country representative for UN Women, Sharmeela Rassool said: “We need to create safe spaces and give women access to safe mobility. When both halves of the population live with their potential, the economies and societies grow. Women are key drivers of economic growth. PIA has just set a trend for the whole world to follow”.
Speaking on the occasion, PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik said: “We pledge as an organisation to create a safer transport environment for women, whether it is in the offices or during transportation”.