The limited number of police stations reserved for women, low public awareness, and institutional gaps hinder women seeking justice.
KARACHI/LAHORE/PESHAWAR:
Despite official demands for reform, women’s access to police in Pakistan remains unequal, conditioned by structural gaps, cultural barriers and limited representation. From Punjab to Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), women continue to face challenges both as citizens seeking justice and as officers serving the system.
In Lahore, women’s access to police services remains fraught with difficulties. The limited number of police stations reserved for women, low levels of public awareness, and institutional gaps continue to prevent women from seeking justice. Although the Punjab government has introduced reforms such as the virtual women’s police station, awareness about these initiatives remains minimal.
A recent case illustrates the problem. Rehan Bibi and Saadia Kausar, two sisters from southern Punjab, traveled to Lahore to settle a land dispute with their brothers, but struggled to navigate the police system. Poorly educated and ignorant of procedures, they were looked after by male police officers in the absence of female staff and were not encouraged to seek help from female police officers.
“We had no idea how the system worked. No one ever informed us,” they told The Express PK Press Club, describing the experience as confusing and distressing.
Despite directives from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to improve police behavior, the reality on the ground is often insufficient. Lahore, despite being a major metropolitan center, has only a handful of women-only police stations. There are women’s support services at general police stations, but they are widely considered insufficient.
A key problem is the shortage of female staff. Women are often required to interact with male police officers, leading to discomfort and a lack of confidence. Delays in registering FIR, insufficient attention given to cases of domestic violence and lack of confidentiality further discourage women from seeking justice.
Social groups point out that the lack of safe and separate reporting spaces discourages women from coming forward. Even though the Virtual Police Station for Women, launched by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, offers an alternative through helplines, mobile applications and online communication, its potential remains underutilized due to lack of awareness.
DIG Lahore Faisal Kamran maintains that progress is being made. “The Lahore Police Operations Wing comprises 21,100 personnel, including 1,252 women officers. Of the 84 police stations in the city, Race Course Police Station has been designated as a women’s station. Women are also included in field teams and specialized units, including those dealing with sexual harassment cases,” Kamran asserted.
Yet experts say meaningful reform requires more than policy announcements; it requires implementation, accessibility and building trust.
In Sindh, similar patterns are emerging. Although policing remains a demanding profession, many women continue to serve with resilience, often balancing their professional duties and family responsibilities. Some of them even manage childcare during work hours, reflecting both their dedication and systemic gaps in support.
Despite their contributions, women remain underrepresented. Of around 150,000 members of the Sindh Police, only 5,815 are women, or 3.8% of the force. Although the women’s quota has been set at 10 percent and there are plans to increase it to 15 percent, progress has been slow.
Representation at senior levels is also limited. Only seven women are superintendents of police, three assistant superintendents, 24 assistant superintendents, 100 inspectors and 47 sub-inspectors.
In Karachi, all 108 general police stations are headed by male officers. Women SHOs are limited to women police stations, of which there are only three in the city.
Senior officer Shahla Qureshi, who has served extensively in the Sindh Police and now works as SP Operations in Quetta, points out that the increase in quotas alone is insufficient. “Women must be given real opportunities,” she said, noting that women such as Ghazala Syed have demonstrated exemplary performance when given leadership roles.
Another prominent figure, Suhai Aziz Talpur, led the response to the 2018 attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi, successfully foiling the assault while serving as SSP South. Her leadership remains a striking example of women’s abilities to hold high-pressure positions.
However, difficulties persist at lower levels. A female policewoman stationed outside the Karachi Press Club, speaking anonymously, described policing as male-dominated. Although she qualified, she remained a constabulary for years, highlighting the lack of career progression. “Women prove themselves when they are given responsibility,” she said, calling for promotions based on merit.
Khizar Hayat, vice-chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (Sindh Chapter), believes that increased representation of women in leadership positions would not only improve policing standards but also build public confidence, especially towards women victims seeking justice.
In KP, the challenges are even more pronounced. For many women, joining the police force is not only a career choice, but also a struggle against entrenched social norms and logistical obstacles.
In Peshawar, where the police force has more than 10,000 men, only around 165 women are stationed in 34 police stations. On average, only two to three female officers are available per shift, reflecting a serious shortage.
Female officers are tasked with a variety of responsibilities, from participating in raids and running women’s offices to escorting prisoners and providing security during religious events and elections. Yet structural problems persist. Many come from remote areas and do not have access to housing, while transport, particularly for night work, remains a major concern.
A police officer told The Express PK Press Club that married police officers often bring their children to work due to a lack of support. Even if daycare does exist, security concerns make it unreliable. “Reconciling duty and family in such conditions is extremely difficult,” she said.
Although a 10 percent quota exists, women make up less than 1 percent of the province’s 100,000 men, with only about 1,800 officers. Cultural barriers and security concerns further restrict participation, particularly in tribal districts.
Despite this, stories of resilience continue to emerge. In Budh Bher, a hotspot area once hit by militancy, Saima Sharif was appointed additional SHO, the first woman to hold the post there. For her, the role is deeply personal; his brother, Moeen, was martyred in 2012 while fighting militants in the same region.
“I belong to a family of martyrs. The honor of the uniform comes first,” she said, emphasizing her commitment to handling cases involving women, especially honor crimes.
The KP Police has introduced reforms, including appointing a woman constable from Chitral district police and integrating women into investigation units. Additional women SHOs have also been posted for the first time in Swat and Khyber tribal districts.
Across Pakistan, the presence of women in policing is slowly increasing, but progress remains uneven. Although policy actions and individual successes signal change, systemic barriers continue to limit both participation and impact.
Bridging the gap between policy and practice will require not only increased recruitment, but also structural reforms, awareness-raising and institutional culture change, ensuring that justice is accessible, inclusive and equitable for all.
