Pakistani Women Ride Motorcycles, Breaking Traditional Gender Shackles

Aqsa Zarif, a 23-year-old graduate student in Pakistan, has broken through traditional gender shackles and social prejudices by commuting on an electric motorcycle. Driven by soaring fuel prices, a reduction in university bus services, and government incentives, the electric two-wheeler market in Pakistan is expanding rapidly, with more and more women choosing to ride motorcycles to gain greater independence.

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23-year-old Aqsa Zarif has found a greater sense of independence by riding an electric motorcycle. She is pursuing a graduate degree in psychology and rides her electric motorcycle through the city every day to commute to school and handle daily errands. For her, the electric motorcycle is more than just a convenient means of transport. In Pakistan, women's mobility is often affected by safety concerns, harassment issues, and limited public transport options.

The electric motorcycle allows her to better control her time and travel arrangements, reducing her reliance on others for rides. Aqsa stated that with rising fuel prices, electric motorcycles have become a more economical travel choice. Furthermore, university bus services have been reduced from four trips a day to two. She said that for women, electric motorcycles mean greater autonomy in travel.

In Pakistan, women riding motorcycles have long been subject to social prejudice. Patriarchal attitudes and family restrictions often constrain women's freedom to travel alone, especially without the accompaniment of male relatives. But as more women take to the road, these long-standing social perceptions are changing.

Aqsa is not the only woman embracing this change. From university campuses to busy city roads, women riding electric motorcycles are becoming increasingly common. With fuel prices soaring and the government introducing incentive measures, Pakistan's electric two-wheeler market is expanding rapidly. The conflict between Iran and the United States has further pushed up market demand, as consumers look for cheaper alternatives to gasoline motorcycles. In the first half of 2026, sales of electric two-wheelers grew by 173%.

To promote women's mobility, the Sindh provincial government plans to provide electric motorcycles to 50,000 women. Meanwhile, thousands of women in Lahore have already received training in riding motorcycles and scooters. Experts say this change is particularly notable in Pakistan. Motorcycles are very common on local roads, but female riders have historically accounted for only a small minority. In Pakistan, safety concerns and inadequate public transport often make daily travel difficult for women. Electric motorcycles are providing some women with an alternative, allowing them to travel more independently. Reported by Hira Mustafa from Islamabad.