Pakistan’s first-ever ride-sharing app for trans people and women launched in September 2024, aiming to protect users from harassment and discrimination on public transport and ride-shares. Entitled SheDrives, the service wants to increase safety by only allowing women and trans people to be both drivers and passengers.

“SheDrives is challenging social injustice by empowering women and transgender individuals on the road. We’re driving change to create a fairer world for 1 billion people,” it says on the company’s website. They also advertise fair pricing, “real-time trip monitoring” and “emergency support features”.

The cars are recognisable by pink logos painted on the vehicles. For now, the service is only available in Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, but CEO Ammaz Farooqi told NBC News that they may consider expanding.

 

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SheDrives appears to have been welcomed by the trans community. The Independent quoted a trans person, Saro Imran, praising the ride-sharing service and adding that the government in Pakistan should loan motorcycles and cars to women and trans people to protect them from discrimination generally. She told the outlet: “Men deliberately touch us when we walk on the streets, or when we travel in public transport.”

According to trans welfare organisations, about 500,000 of Pakistan’s 240 million population are trans, 30,000 of which are estimated to live in Lahore. Like in many other countries worldwide, trans people don’t have it easy in Pakistan. Especially in very conservative parts of the predominantly Muslim country, members of the trans community are regarded as outcasts and face assault, harassment, sexual abuse or even murder.

Other members of the LGBTQ+ community are also looked down upon in Pakistan, where gay sex is illegal and can be punished by imprisonment and fines.

Therefore, many are reluctant to use regular public transport such as buses and trains where they are not safe from being ridiculed, made fun of or even assaulted. This experience is also common for women travelling on their own in Pakistan, which is why they also benefit from the ride-sharing service.

In general, to stay safe when using ride-shares, trans people, women and other vulnerable groups are advised to look up their drivers’ ratings, and share the trip details and real-time location with trusted people. Furthermore, it is recommended that they try sitting in the back seat and make sure their phones are charged, so they can stay connected to someone during the trip.

It can also help to have the journey open on maps, to see if the driver is taking the right route and not driving somewhere else. Most importantly, when feeling unsafe, people should trust their gut and ask to be let out in a safe public place.