HERAT CITY (SW): Traffic department officials in the western Herat province told Salam Watandar that so far over 200 women have obtained driving licenses after succeeding the theory and practical tests.
Driving a car remains a rather difficult and controversial task for women in Afghanistan but the trend has apparently changed in Herat. Abdul Rahim Sadat, the provincial head of traffic said more and more women were opting for it as it helped them earn a respective livelihood as well.
“We issue them licenses without any fuss within three weeks once they clear their theory and practical exams”, he told SW.
Here, at the provincial driving learning center, dozens of women are busy learning the skill. Fareeba is one of them. She has been coming here for the past two weeks now. She believed self confidence and interest were the keys to learning driving.
“At the beginning, I knew nothing and was too shy but as I got my hands on the job things became more obvious and easy”, she said. Fareeba went on to say that she enjoyed the liberty to drive her family members to visit relatives and other places of need and recreation.
Fazal Ahmad Amiri, director of the vehicle training center told SW that a comprehensive 45-days learning course has been devised for women. “We teach them the about the techniques and rules of driving for 10 days each then take their exams before proceeding to the actual test drives”, Amiri said.
He added some 200 females have obtained driving licenses following the course. At least seven such training centers are functioning in Herat that facilitates women in learning the driving skills.
Many female drivers told SW that the society was gradually accepting female drivers unlike in the past when even kids would make fun of ladies on wheels.
ENDS
