Karachi Bus Rapid Transit Red Line Project (RRP PAK 47279)

GENDER ACTION PLAN

Activities Targets and Indicators Responsibility Timeframe
Outcome: Quality of public transport in Karachi is improved
0.1 Establish a ‘Safe BRT Travel 0.1.1 Mechanisms to report and address incidents of sexual and other forms of • PMCCB consultants Q3 2019–Q4
Program’ campaign addressing harassment or crimes, developed and disseminated to the riding public. support 2021
all forms of harassment, 0.1.2 All BRT employees trained to handle and record incidents of sexual • SMTA (Gender
violence, bullying, theft, and harassment and other crimes. specialist)
other security concerns. 0.1.3 A database of incidents is established, with periodic analysis conducted to • TransKarachi (PIU
identify ‘hot spots’ and new measures to curb them. Social and gender
0.2 Conduct periodic rapid 0.2.1 Two rapid ridership surveys conducted and analysed according to sex, age, staff) 1st survey: at the
ridership surveys to track and general employment status (employed, self-employed, not employed, student) end of first year
changes in (i) size and diversity 0.2.2 At least 15% female ridership in the first year of operation, and increased to of operations
of riders, and (ii) their satisfaction 20% in the last year of project implementation (2022). (2021)
level. 0.2.3 At least 50% of each surveyed group (male vs. female respondents) are 2nd survey: on
satisfied with (i) reliability; (ii) security/safety; (iii) comfort; (iv) access; the last year of
(v) connectivity; (vi) affordability; and (vii) information provision of BRT services. project
(2015 Baseline: only 15% women and 28% men have positive perceptions of the implementation
reliability, security and safety, and comfort of public buses). (2022)
0.3 Conduct impact study of the 0.3.1 One video documentary produced capturing pre- and post- BRT commuting Q1–Q4 2022
use of the BRT for women, men, experiences and perceptions of equal number of male and female interviewees.
children, PWDs, the elderly, and 0.3.2 A full report documenting the impact of the BRT on (i) lives of the commuting
other vulnerable groups. public, segregated by sex, age, ability, and general employment status, and (ii)
economic situation of Karachi.
Output 1. Karachi’s first sustainable BRT corridor and associated facilities constructed
1.1 Construct social and gender- 1.1.1 All BRT stations have (i) platform level boarding, tensile marking, ramps or • ODBM consultants Q1 2019–Q2
inclusive BRT stations according escalators; (ii) separate queuing spaces for women and men; (iii) marked priority • EPCM consultants 2020
to international standards. seating in waiting areas for the elderly, PWDs, and pregnant women; (iv) separate • SMTA (Gender
restrooms for males and females, with diaper-changing facilities; and specialist)
(v) well-lit and unobstructed floor design with visible and operational CCTVs. • TransKarachi (PIU
1.1.2 All BRT stations have visible anti-harassment and bullying features that also Social and gender
deter other crimes, such as (i) staffed help desks; (ii) visible hotlines / helpline staff)
numbers, (iii) posters with messages against sexual harassment and other crimes; • Contractors/suppliers
(iv) signages with clear instructions and help lines for those experiencing any
harassment and other crimes in the station; and (v) tv monitors (as feasible), that
constantly play (in Urdu, Pashto and/or Hindko) short campaign ads discouraging
any form of harassment and promoting a respectful public space for all regardless
of sex, age, ethnicity, and cultural affiliations.
1.1.3 At least 10% of shops/commercial spaces established by TransKarachi in
the whole mezzanine of the staging facility, allocated to women entrepreneurs.
1.2 Construct social and gender- 1.2.1 Approaches to all BRT stations include (i) delineated bike lanes protected Q1 2019–Q2
inclusive approaches to each from encroaching 4-(or more) wheeled motorized vehicles; (ii) parking areas for 2020
BRT station bikes; (iii) shaded and well-lighted walkways for pedestrians, with provisions for
pram/wheelchair accessibility; and (iv) evenly paved, unobstructed access roads
with speed humps, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, and clear signages.
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Activities Targets and Indicators Responsibility Timeframe

1.3 Ensure that every unit in the 1.3.1 Each bus has (i) a segregated seating and standing section for women, with Q1 2020
BRT fleet meets international spaces for prams; (ii) specially marked seats for persons with disabilities;
standards for safe and (iii) signages (in local languages) with clear messages on strict enforcement of
comfortable travel for all types of priority seating and segregated spaces for women, as well as information on bus
passengers, especially women routes, stops, and schedules; (iii) visible CCTV (as feasible); and (iv) posters
and other vulnerable segments promoting a respectful public transport system and discouraging all forms of
of the riding public. harassment, including hotlines / helpline numbers for victims.
Output 2: Effective project management and sustainable BRT operations established
2.1 Institute a gender 2.1.1 Gender specialist position is created and filled, with clear TOR on • PMCCB consultants Recruitment
mainstreaming approach in incorporating gender concerns in SMTA’s programs, policies, and operations. • SMTA (Gender and
SMTA and TransKarachi 2.1.2 An Equal Opportunity, Gender and Social specialist position is created and specialist) Appointments:
filled with clear TOR on incorporating social and gender-inclusive concerns in • TransKarachi (PIU from Q1 2019
Transkarachi’s programs, policies and operations. Social and gender
2.1.3 At least 1 women appointed in TransKarachi’s Boards of Directors. staff)
2.1.4 At least 10% female staff in SMTA and TransKarachi.
2.1.5 At least 10% female service providers/ contractors/ third party employees
recruited for operations and maintenance, such as fare collection, janitorial, and
security services.
2.1.6 All staff trained on social and gender-inclusive codes of practice and
behaviour, with refresher courses conducted every 3 years. Trainings: Q2
2.1.7 Social and gender inclusive policies and practices integrated into the 2019 –
business plans and operational procedures manuals of SMTA and TransKarachi, throughout
including strategies to increase recruitment of female staff. operations
2.2 Ensure social and gender 2.2.1 Some feeder routes and schedules cater to the travel needs of women and Q2 2019 -
inclusiveness of BRT other vulnerable passengers, as determined by quick surveys and study. throughout
operations. 2.2.2 All staff with direct passenger interaction (e.g. station and ticket staff, drivers operations
and conductors, and security guards) are trained on passenger management, incl.
enforcing segregation of women’s sections, child protection, addressing needs of
vulnerable passengers, and proper handling of threats to passenger security.
2.2.3 Studies and trials on the feasibility of special buses for women and
vulnerable passengers conducted, with recommendations submitted to
TransKarachi and SMTA.
2.2.4 At least one female conductor or security guard is available on each BRT
station, and in all buses for off-corridor services, at all times to provide support to
women passengers.
2.2.5 80% of the projected 320,000 daily riders are aware of passenger safety
actions, based on the multimedia behaviour campaigns on passenger safety,
especially for women, children and PWDs.
BRT = bus rapid transit, CCTV = closed-circuit television, EPCM = Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Monitoring consultants, ODBM = Operations, Design,
and Business Model consultants, PIU = project implementation unit, PMCCB = Project Management, Communication, and Capacity Building consultants, PWD =
people with disabilities Q = quarter, SMTA = Sindh Mass Transit Authority, TOR = terms of reference.
Source: Asian Development Bank estimates.