Nida Saleh becomes Pakistan’s first female Orange Line Metro Train driver

LAHORE: Ali Imran Chattha

In a milestone moment for gender inclusion in Pakistan’s public transport sector, Nida Saleh Malik has been appointed as the country’s first female driver of the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT).

The announcement was made by Lahore’s metro authorities on Tuesday, following Ms Saleh’s successful completion of technical training and operational testing. The development has been widely hailed as a step forward for women’s participation in traditionally male-dominated fields.

The Orange Line, Pakistan’s first fully automated urban rail transit system, operates across a 27.1-kilometre route in Lahore, connecting Ali Town in the south to Dera Gujran in the north. The service includes 26 stations and caters to over 250,000 daily commuters. It was developed under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative, in collaboration with Chinese contractors and technical experts.

Ms Saleh, who holds a degree in transport engineering, joined the metro project as a technical officer before being selected for training as a driver. She underwent a six-month course conducted jointly by Chinese and Pakistani engineers, covering automated systems, safety protocols, and emergency handling.

Speaking to reporters after her appointment, Ms Saleh said the achievement was not hers alone but one shared by all Pakistani women striving for professional advancement. “I hope this opens the door for more women to enter the field,” she said.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif congratulated Ms Saleh in a social media post, calling her appointment “a proud moment for all of us” and reaffirming her government’s commitment to promoting women in the workforce. “Our daughters are capable of achieving anything,” she said.

The Orange Line Metro, launched in October 2020, is a flagship project of the broader CPEC framework. It represents one of the most significant examples of Pakistan–China cooperation in urban development. The appointment of the first female operator underlines the project’s emphasis not only on infrastructure but also on capacity building and inclusive employment.

Transport officials confirmed that more female candidates are expected to be inducted in future batches of operational and technical staff as part of the department’s gender diversity plan.

Observers say Ms Saleh’s appointment sends a powerful message in a country where female workforce participation remains below the regional average. Analysts noted that while Pakistan has made progress in women’s education, translating that into meaningful employment opportunities has remained a challenge.

The Lahore Orange Line is currently the only operational metro train of its kind in Pakistan. Plans for future metro lines in Karachi, Islamabad, and Peshawar are being explored under similar public-private partnership models.