The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has launched a significant initiative ‘Pink Buses’ for Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Schools, aimed at addressing transportation hurdles faced by female students and women educators. This initiative entails the introduction of new buses to mitigate the challenge.
Under this program, a fleet of 20 buses sourced from federal educational institutions will be prepared and put into operation, with support from the district administration. The distinctive feature of these buses is their pink color, and they will provide complimentary transportation services for female students and teachers across both urban and rural areas of the federal capital Islamabad.
The decision to implement this initiative stems from the Ministry’s concern over the increasing rate of girls dropping out of school, often attributed to inadequate transportation options.
The Secretary of Education disclosed the outcomes of an internal audit, which revealed that thirty percent of the total 385 buses belonging to federal educational institutions are currently non-operational due to budgetary constraints, driver shortages, and delays in maintenance. Additionally, it was mentioned that other women would also be permitted to use these buses in the future, subject to availability. It was further emphasized that these buses will be operational and ready to serve female students and teachers by 15th June 2024
