Breaking the Glass Ceiling: First female DIG pleads for merit

LAHORE: “Policewomen must be hired, evaluated and promoted on their own merit and not as tokens to satisfy the government’s statistical requirements or political needs,” said Helena Saeed after becoming the first female deputy inspector general (DIG) in the police in Pakistan, on Thursday. In a brief statement, Saeed said that “recognition of women’s role in policing is important to persuade them to perform better and encourage more women to join the police to achieve a gender balance”. Saeed joined the police department 20 years ago as the first female assistant superintendent of police (ASP) and one of the first educated women to join the service. There are currently 11 women ASPs in Pakistan. Saeed is expected to help the police department recruit more women to improve the gender balance of the force. Prior to her promotion, Saeed had been serving as assistant inspector general (AIG) at the Special Branch, Islamabad. She is now awaiting her new assignment.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2011.