When the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025 ranked Pakistan dead last — 148 out of 148 countries — there was collective outrage online. But like most things related to women’s rights here, the fire died down within days. Because let’s be honest, we’ve normalized the problem to a point where such rankings barely shock us anymore. The injustice is expected. The outrage is momentary. And that’s exactly why PinkFly stands out.
In a country where women’s issues are routinely brushed aside, a startup that centers its entire mission around women’s mobility, safety, and empowerment feels like a quiet revolution. They’re not making a statement just for applause; they’re doing the work. And they’re doing it right.
So, in today’s episode of “startups that actually get what they’re doing,” let’s talk about PinkFly.
Pretty | Powerful | Pink: Meet the Startup
PinkFly isn’t just another ride-hailing app; it’s a bold answer to a question so many women have asked for too long: Why isn’t there a service that actually gets what we go through every day?
It’s Pakistan’s first women-focused ride-hailing service, yes, but it’s also much more than that. PinkFly was built with one clear goal in mind: to make women feel comfortable, respected, and safe in every single ride. No gimmicks and no fluff. Just a real, intentional effort to fix what has never worked for us.
Mobility might seem like a basic thing to some, but for women in Pakistan, it’s often a daily struggle. PinkFly is here to change that, not by tweaking the existing system, but by building a new one where women are not just an afterthought, but the whole point.
Visit PinkFly’s Instagram here.
The Man Behind PinkFly: Saim Iqbal
Guess what immediately caught my attention? The fact that the person behind this women-first startup isn’t a woman, but a man. And not just any man, but one who actually gets it. It’s quite apparent Saim Iqbal didn’t launch PinkFly as a trendy business move. He built it with empathy, intention, and a deep understanding of what women in Pakistan face every single day, and the way he’s leading proves that even more.
In a country like Pakistan, seeing a man step up is genuinely refreshing. The best part? It invites everyone else into the conversation. That’s the kind of action that moves the needle.
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What Sets PinkFly Apart?
A lot of people have tried to launch women-first initiatives, but here’s why PinkFly feels different: it doesn’t just look women-centric on the surface; it’s deeply built around our actual experiences. Everything about it, from the interface to the ride protocols, feels like someone listened.
1. They Know Change Takes Time, And They’re Here for the Long Ride
The dream is to have a fleet of women drivers, and PinkFly is clear about that. But they also know it’s not something that can be rushed. Training women as professional drivers, ensuring their safety on the road, and overcoming deeply rooted social norms that discourage or limit women from entering the transport workforce, it’s a big shift. That’s why they’ve started with vetted male drivers who meet a strict standard. It’s a practical step, not a compromise. They’re thinking long-term, and that kind of patience is rare and commendable.
2. They Get the Concept of Safety Right
The second your ride begins, the driver’s phone switches into a monitoring device. No vague safety icons or feel-good promises. PinkFly doesn’t rely on shiny badges or token gestures to make you feel safe; they’ve gone several steps further to actually make safety real and visible. Every PinkFly ride comes equipped with an in-app camera — they call it Pinkam. The purpose is to create a strong deterrent against inappropriate behavior. Also, that’s a powerful tool for accountability in case anything goes wrong. It’s just one more way PinkFly is proving that they understand what real safety looks like
That’s how you build trust. They seem to understand that safety in Pakistan isn’t just about avoiding danger; it’s about easing the mental burden we carry every time we step out alone. And they’ve done the work to ease that burden.
3. They Are Doing Everything Others Overlook
The first few minutes of a ride are when women feel most vulnerable. Sending your location, pretending to be on a call, keeping your phone ready, it’s exhausting. PinkFly understands that, and they have a dedicated feature to address this. PinkLine is like your personal panic button — one tap, and your trusted contacts and safety authorities know exactly where you are and what’s happening. They’ve designed their system so you don’t have to stay on high alert. The things other platforms ignore or consider “too small” to fix? PinkFly handles them. And that attention to detail makes all the difference.
What’s Cooking At PinkFly Might Be Everything Pakistani Women Dream Of
Recently, PinkFly announced a partnership with CoMo, a global mobility platform. The full picture isn’t out yet, but from the looks of it, something big is on the way. If what’s next is even half as thoughtful as what they’ve built so far, it could be the beginning of the kind of transport experience Pakistani women have always deserved. And I, for one, can’t wait to see what’s next.
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PinkFly: A Startup That’s Setting the Standard
PinkFly is thoughtful, brave, and most importantly, it’s needed. They’ve taken the time to listen, to observe, and to act. PinkFly isn’t just giving women a safer way to get from A to B. They’re building a future where women feel seen, respected, and prioritized. Here’s to bold ideas, inclusive execution, and startups that start with women, not add them in later.
