Women's Safety Audit in Public Transport in Lahore

The Women’s Safety Audit in Public Transport in Lahore assesses the safety concerns of womenand girls using public transport in Lahore. It identifies factors that may increase the chances ofviolence against women and girls at bus stops and on buses. It gauges the factors responsible forharassment, including sexual harassment in public spaces, with a focus on public transport.The study was conducted by the Aurat Foundation and co-led by the Women’s DevelopmentDepartment (WDD) Punjab and UN Women, in collaboration with the Punjab Commission onthe Status of Women (PCSW), the Chief Minister’s Strategic Reform Unit and the Punjab Safe CityAuthority (PSCA).

The data reveals an alarming situation regarding the safety of women on public transport,contributing to the existing restrictions on women’s mobility, limiting their opportunities toengage in economic activity, education and other aspects of a fulfilled life. The study finds thatinadequate infrastructure and security arrangements, a gender-neutral approach by administratorsand policymakers, social attitudes towards women and girls, and a lack of awareness among thegeneral population about the impacts of sexual harassment on women’s and girl’s lives, are someof the major reasons why dramatic levels of harassment on public transport have gone unnoticedand perhaps increased.