Islamabad Appoints First Female Traffic Chief Aiming to Boost Women Drivers and Improve Road Safety

Kainat Azhar Khan, Islamabad’s inaugural female Chief Traffic Officer, announced this week her goal to increase the number of women drivers in the capital, asserting that greater female participation on the roads would challenge stereotypes and encourage male motorists to act appropriately and share space responsibly.

A Grade-18 officer of the Pakistan Police Service, she was appointed chief traffic officer this month and concurrently assigned as Senior Superintendent of Police for Safe City, overseeing traffic management and road safety across the capital.

Her appointment represents a milestone in a nation where women are still underrepresented in law enforcement and where mobility remains a challenge for many. Traffic policing has historically been a male‑dominated sector.

“We want more women drivers on the road so that their male counterparts learn how to interact with them,” Khan told Arab News in an interview this week.

While Pakistan has made incremental advances in women’s participation in public life, female labor force participation remains among the lowest in South Asia. Researchers and development agencies have long identified limited mobility, safety concerns, and social norms as barriers that hinder many women from accessing education and employment opportunities.

Khan noted that initiatives such as Islamabad’s Uraan Scooty and Motor Riding School—programs that train women to ride motorcycles, scooters, and drive cars—could help increase women’s presence on the roads.

The senior officer added that such programs would gradually produce more female drivers and help normalize their presence in public spaces.

Women drivers in Pakistan continue to confront stereotypes questioning their driving ability, often reinforced by jokes, casual remarks, and social attitudes that can translate into discrimination on the road.

Khan said greater visibility would help shift these attitudes.

“They learn to tolerate,” she said of male drivers. “They learn how to behave, and if they do not, police will take appropriate action.”

Her comments came days after former information minister Fawad Chaudhry responded to social media posts about her appointment by stating that most women were “completely useless” as police officers, remarks that drew online criticism.

But Khan’s responsibilities extend far beyond breaking gender barriers.

As chief traffic officer, she inherits one of Islamabad’s most persistent public complaints: traffic disruptions caused by VIP movements.

As the nation’s capital and seat of government, Islamabad frequently experiences road closures and lengthy traffic disruptions when senior officials, foreign dignitaries, and other high‑profile figures travel through the city under heavy security.

Khan acknowledged that the issue remains a challenge.

“Obviously, the traffic plan is intended to regulate both the public and VIPs, but at times it does become an issue,” she said.

She said authorities are working to improve traffic management so that security requirements do not come at the expense of ordinary commuters.

“We are trying to devise a mechanism, and, God willing, you will see a difference,” Khan said.

Technology will form a key part of that effort.

As head of the Islamabad Safe City system, Khan is overseeing the integration of traffic management with one of Pakistan’s most advanced urban surveillance networks, which includes hundreds of high‑definition cameras, video monitoring systems, and other digital tools deployed across the city.

“We already have advanced cameras and drones in operation, and now traffic police are working closely with Safe City to make roads safer and commuting easier,” she said.

“Around 700 new cameras will soon cover previously blind spots, ensuring the entire city is monitored and secure.”

Despite the focus on technology and enforcement, Khan said her primary objective remains saving lives.

“My request to the people of Islamabad is simple: follow traffic rules not for the police but to save lives,” she said.

“We want our citizens and all Pakistanis to live and thrive.”

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