BRT Peshawar employs approximately 3,000 to 3,500 staff members, with about 10% being women, predominantly from Chitral, Charsadda, Shah Alam, and the surrounding areas of Peshawar. These women are often from financially unstable families or are less educated. Reports indicate a lack of proper, women-friendly facilities, such as dedicated common rooms and additional relief measures, which are essential due to the physical demands that women face.
Rafia (fictitious name), a 28-year-old from Shah Alam, works as a security guard in BRT Peshawar. Tearfully, she recounted how she had dreamt of becoming a doctor in her childhood, but her parents married her off right after she completed her tenth grade. Now, she has three children, and her husband is unemployed, which forces her to work at BRT Peshawar.
Rafia further shared that she wakes up at 6 AM every morning, sends her children to school, and then takes care of all the household chores. Her children return home at 2 PM, and after that, she goes to work. Her shift starts at 2 PM and ends at 10 PM, and she earns a monthly salary of 32,000 rupees.
Nida (fictitious name), a 24-year-old who also works as a security guard at BRT Peshawar, shared her experience. When her father passed away, she requested three days off from the administration, which was approved. However, when it was time to receive her salary, she found that the pay for those three days had been deducted.
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Furthermore, Shagufta (fictitious name), a 42-year-old BRT employee residing in Hashtnagri, shared her experience. She mentioned that she had repeatedly requested to be assigned to the Hashtnagri station, which is close to her home. Despite making several requests, her appeals were ignored, and she was assigned to distant stations instead. The administration justified this by stating that BRT's policies are the same for both male and female employees.
All the women working at BRT Peshawar earnestly request that more facilities be provided for them. They ask for a designated room for prayer and meals, and that special attention be given to their personal needs and concerns.
On the other hand, the BRT administration states that all stations have separate bathroom facilities for male and female workers, and that first aid kits and sitting chairs are also available. Regarding the common room, they clarify that there is no common room for any employee, whether male or female, at BRT stations. The duty is a strict 8-hour shift.
