German Consulate extends support to the Lyari Girls Cafe.

KARACHI -- The German Consulate gifted 16 cycles to the Lyari Girls Cafe on Sunday. The cycles were a gesture of support from the German government for the young cyclists of Lyari. Zulekha Dawood, a young activist and the head of girl cyclists in Lyari said that the Consulate has been encouraging Lyari Girls Cafe with moral support for the past year. The cycles came as a welcome gift as the club was in dire need. 'The number of cyclists has been increasing but we had only 10 cycles,' said Dawood.

Birgit Khilmann, the Deputy Head of Mission at the German Consulate, formally handed over the cycles and spent time with the cyclists in Lyari. They cycled together near the Custom House, Eduljee Dinshaw Road. 'I am really happy that Lyari's girls are freely riding cycles without any fear,' said Khilmann, adding that the German Consulate often encourages such healthy activities.

Speaking to the media, Dawood said that the female cyclists have not only encouraged other girls and women to cycle freely on the streets but have also managed to motivate boys to use cycles as a mode of transportation. She pointed out, however, that the city's streets were not always conducive to the activity.

'There is no space for cyclists. Town planners must consider spaces for cyclists in their future planning. The number of cyclists is increasing with each passing day,' she said. She expressed the hope that cyclists would soon replace motorcyclists.

Parents of the cyclists and others from Lyari were present on the occasion.

Uphill journey

The streets of Lyari are populated by men. You see them smoking, gossiping or playing games, either on the footpath or in small gaming arcades. The women can be spotted making their way through...