SAEDNEWS: The ninth daughter of Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar, she was the pioneer behind Iran’s taxi system, and the country’s first regular taxi service hit the streets in 1953.
According to the Social Affairs Desk of Saed News, citing Namnak, the founder of the taxi system in Iran was a woman. Don’t be surprised—Ashraf al-Molouk, also known as Fakhr al-Dawla, the ninth daughter of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, used her inherited wealth and managerial skills to become one of the richest women in Iran. She was the first person to envision introducing taxis and promoting the culture of using them among the Iranian public.
Although some historical sources suggest that Fakhr al-Dawla was not the first to import taxis to Tehran, attributing this achievement to Ali Amini, her grandson, the book The First Women by Azra Dejham confirms that she was indeed the first to conceive this idea. Historical accounts even mention that she gifted taxis to young men preparing for marriage so they could support themselves financially, earn an honest living, and manage the expenses of married life.
