Islamabad, October 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Pakistan’s Punjab province recorded 195,787 cases of violence against women and girls between 2021 and 2025, accounting for nearly 82 per cent of all reported gender-based violence cases across the country during the five-year period, according to a human rights report cited by local media.
The National Gender-Based Violence Crime Report 2021-25, published by Peace and Justice Network Pakistan, documented thousands of cases involving domestic violence, sexual abuse, kidnapping, abduction and other forms of gender-based violence in the province.
According to the report, Punjab recorded 14,824 cases of domestic violence during the period, including 3,746 cases in which women were killed. The province also reported 830 honour killings and 442 cases of burning, comprising 143 acid attacks and 299 incidents involving stove burning, Pakistan Observer reported.
Sexual violence was another major category, with 20,560 cases documented between 2021 and 2025. These included 16,827 rape cases, 2,183 gang-rape cases, 189 instances of custodial sexual violence and 1,361 cases of incest.
Kidnapping and abduction accounted for 90,965 cases, making it the largest individually reported category in the province. The report also recorded 68,165 cases involving other forms of gender-based violence that were not separately classified.
The annual figures indicate a steady rise in reported cases over the five-year period. Punjab recorded 23,032 cases in 2021, followed by 28,080 in 2022 and 35,238 in 2023. The number increased to 52,824 in 2024 and reached 56,613 in 2025.
The report cautioned that the figures were based on police records of formally reported incidents and therefore may not reflect the full scale of violence against women and girls, as many cases may go unreported.
The findings come amid continued concerns over the effectiveness of measures to address gender-based violence in Pakistan. A report published last month highlighted the need for a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach, noting that the problem is deeply rooted in individual attitudes, family dynamics and community norms.
Despite the introduction of anti-rape legislation, domestic violence laws and amendments addressing crimes against women, prevention efforts and conviction rates in gender-based violence cases remain low, according to a report cited by The Friday Times.
The report identified a range of obstacles to effective action, including a lack of political will, gender stereotypes, societal taboos and complex judicial procedures. It also questioned whether existing government efforts were producing meaningful results.
It called for action that addresses the wider social environment in which violence against women occurs, stressing that the problem cannot be tackled through legislation alone.
The report stated that a comprehensive response must involve individuals, families, communities and institutions, with coordinated efforts to challenge attitudes and social practices that enable gender-based violence.
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