Pakistan, Aug. 31 -- The morning traffic is already beginning to swell when a woman pulls down her helmet, places both hands firmly on the handlebar of her scooty and joins the moving stream of vehicles. There is nothing unusual about a vehicle entering traffic, yet the scene carries a significance that goes beyond the road.

A woman who once waited for someone else to drive her is now choosing her own route, timing her own journey and deciding when she will return. Alia from Sialkot said one of the biggest challenges is the unnecessary attention.

"You constantly feel watched and stared at. It honestly feels like you are being observed and judged everywhere you go," she said.

For many women, the move from the passenger seat to the handl...