Beyond the confines of the four walls of the home, women are fiercely reclaiming the City. This is evident in their increasing presence at bus stops on Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi, their patronage of eateries in shopping centres, their utilisation of women-only contract carriages for safe travel across the city and their active engagement in educational institutions and places of livelihood.

In a world where public spaces are often designed for men, women face a daily gauntlet of obstacles: harassment, inadequate infrastructure and cultural barriers. A public space is defined as a location that is open and accessible to everyone, and where many social interactions take place. Public spaces are a social construct, shaped by human interaction and interpretation, and reflect the values, beliefs and priorities of the dominant groups. And this isn't just about physical access; it's about agency, about women shaping the urban landscape on their own terms.

In Karachi, the fight for public spaces by women is particularly acute. Poor lighting, a dearth of........

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