Gender violence crisis

A shocking new report should serve as a grim wake-up call for authorities in Punjab. According to the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), at least 85 women face violence daily in Punjab, a devastating figure that includes an average of nine women who are sexually assaulted each day. The data was compiled from police records for the first half of 2025 and exposes a crisis that demands an immediate and resolute response.

The statistics paint a picture of widespread, systemic gender-based violence. Other crimes with high rates of occurrence include a harrowing 51 kidnappings and 24 incidents of domestic violence occurring every single day. Lahore is the epicenter of this violence, recording the highest number of cases in multiple categories, although its disproportionately high representation may also have to do with cultural and policing peculiarities. For cyber harassment, for example, only five districts reported any cases.

Compounding the problem is the failure of transparency. The SSDO report notes that crime data for several districts was either shoddy or outright missing. This was not just the case in far-flung areas, but also in major cities such as Rawalpindi and Faisalabad. The absence of data undermines public trust and obscures the true scale of the emergency. If the government cannot even fully account for crimes against citizens, either through unwillingness or ineptitude, it essentially becomes a complicit party in those crimes.

And while some analysts may say that increased reporting reflects improved police performance, it is clear that age-old structural challenges continue to hinder justice and protection for survivors. There is an urgent need for coordinated action to strengthen reporting systems, enhance police investigative capacity and ensure timely judicial proceedings. The government must also invest more in improving and expanding survivor support services, including shelters, legal aid and psycho-social assistance.