Interloop organized a spectacular Bikes Distribution Ceremony at the Government College Women University Faisalabad, attended by successful trainees who were receiving bikes, senior executives from interloop, faculty and staff members of GCWUF and the Salman Sufi foundation training team. 48 subsidized bikes were presented to women and young girls from GCWUF, TCF, and the general public who had completed bike riding lessons and successfully acquired permanent driving licenses under the Women of Wheels program.
The Women on Wheels training program was introduced in Faisalabad by Mr. Musadaq Zulqarnain, Chairman Interloop around a year ago. The initiative seeks to empower 2000 women through free bike riding lessons, and training in road safety and anti-harassment, enabling them to manage their commutes for work, university, or business, independently. The highpoint of this program was distributing subsidized bikes to successful permanent license holders so that they could ride their own conveyances independently and reduce dependence on others. Also, on 20th November, 140 bikes were distributed to women working at Interloop manufacturing plants, a big percentage among them comprising women workers.
While addressing the audience, Mr. Musadaq Zulqarnain expressed gratitude to Ms. Zill-e-Huma, Vice-Chancellor GCWUF, for providing a safe place in the form of a university ground for training the WOW program participants. He also acknowledged the hard work of Interloop Welfare Trust team for coordinating the training sessions, thanked the training partners Salman Sufi Foundation team and appreciated the traffic police for facilitation in processing permanent driving licenses for the applicants.
Mr. Musadaq applauded the women bikers for their unwavering dedication and successful completion of training. He underlined the profound importance of women having independent means of transportation, and urged them all to obtain permanent driving licenses and use bikes for personal mobility as a good number had completed their training. He encouraged safe driving, wearing helmets, and following traffic rules, also inspiring other women and young girls to feel confident on the road.
Addressing inquiries regarding preference for motorbikes over electric scooties, Mr. Musadaq explained practical considerations such as, charging facility limitations, insufficient repair facilities, and costly spare parts.
Ms. Zill-e-Huma, Vice-Chancellor GCWUF while talking to audience referred to Hazrat Khadija (R.A) who was also a businesswoman, as an inspiring example of women empowerment. She commended Interloop’s initiative as it would enable women to commute independently and would ease the burden on male family members. She also mentioned that half of the country’s population is women, so a considerable number should be visible commuting on the roads independently which would enhance access and proficiency of women and also contribute positively to the economy of the country.
The highlight of the event was a remarkable show of young women driving their bikes into the arena in the form of a rally. The event concluded with gratitude towards all stakeholders and scrumptious refreshments.
