Punjab Emerges as Epicentre of Rape Cases in Pakistan, Reveals Report

News Desk

Islamabad: Punjab accounted for a staggering 6,624 out of 7,010 reported rape cases nationwide in 2023, representing 94.5 percent of the total, according to a groundbreaking report by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO).

This alarming statistic highlights that nearly every reported rape case in Pakistan occurred in Punjab. In contrast, Sindh reported 188 cases, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 187, and Balochistan just 11, illustrating a vast regional disparity in reported incidents.

The report, titled “Mapping Gender-Based Violence in Pakistan: District-Level Analysis of Rape, Kidnapping, and Honor Killings”, was launched at an event held at the National Press Club in Islamabad on Monday.

Key stakeholders, including policymakers, gender experts, and civil society members, attended the event, discussing the pressing issue of gender-based violence (GBV) across Pakistan.

Based on data obtained from provincial police departments through Right to Information (RTI) requests, the report provides a detailed analysis of GBV cases reported in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan throughout 2023.

While the number of reported cases has increased, the report emphasizes that thousands more likely remain undocumented due to social stigma, fear, and lack of support systems, painting an incomplete picture of the true extent of GBV in the country.

GBV Across Provinces

The report highlights significant variations in GBV across the provinces. Sindh recorded the highest number of kidnappings, with 1,666 women abducted—accounting for 56.4% of total kidnappings nationwide. Punjab followed with 562 cases, Balochistan with 163, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 36. The high rate of kidnappings in Sindh raises concerns about women’s safety and the effectiveness of local law enforcement.

Honor killings also remain a deeply entrenched issue, with Sindh again leading the statistics. The province reported 258 cases—nearly half of all honor killings in Pakistan.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa followed with 129 cases, Punjab with 120, and Balochistan with 26. These figures reflect the enduring challenge of patriarchal violence, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where such incidents are often normalized.

Underreporting Crisis

The SSDO report underscores the pervasive issue of underreporting, particularly in regions like Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. Despite the lower official numbers, GBV is likely far more prevalent in these areas.

The social stigma and fear associated with reporting, coupled with inadequate support systems, prevent many survivors from coming forward.

This results in a significant gap between reported and actual cases of violence.

Recommendations

The report calls for several key reforms, including the establishment of a centralized national database to track GBV cases, accessible through a public website and mobile app with real-time statistics.

Enhanced police training on victim-centered approaches is also recommended to ensure sensitive handling and timely prosecution of cases. Community engagement initiatives aimed at reducing the stigma around reporting GBV are essential, as are legislative oversight and

stricter enforcement of existing laws to hold perpetrators accountable. The report stresses the need for a coordinated response between law enforcement, policymakers, and communities to address the systemic challenges of gender-based violence in Pakistan.

Call for Action

Syed Kausar Abbas, Executive Director of SSDO, emphasized the urgency of a multi-sectoral approach to combat GBV. “These statistics reflect only the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of cases go unreported due to fear, stigma, and inadequate support systems.

The numbers from Punjab, Sindh, and other provinces show that we need a systemic overhaul to ensure that survivors feel empowered to come forward and seek justice,” he stated.

While acknowledging the efforts of provincial police in increasing case registrations, Abbas expressed concern about the unreported cases and urged the judiciary to prioritize GBV cases for faster convictions. “The conviction rates for gender-based violence cases must improve. Courts need to address these cases with urgency,” he added.

Abbas also highlighted the critical role of data transparency in tackling GBV, calling for real-time, publicly accessible data to bridge the gap between reported and unreported cases and enable policymakers to make informed decisions.

The report presents a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by women across Pakistan and calls for concerted efforts to address the systemic failures that perpetuate violence against women.