Woman injured in acid attack by husband in Samundri

FAISALABAD: A woman was severely injured in an acid attack by her husband following a domestic dispute in Samundri tehsil of Faisalabad district.

According to the police, the incident occurred in Housing Colony No 1 within the limits of City Police Station.

The victim, whose face and hands were badly burnt, was shifted to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Samundri. Doctors said her condition was critical.

Police said legal proceedings had been initiated and raids were under way to arrest the suspect, who fled after the attack.

Acid attacks in Pakistan

Acid attacks remain a recurring form of violence against women in Pakistan, often linked to domestic disputes, leaving survivors with lifelong physical and psychological scars.

Majority of the acid attack cases are reported from Punjab. Just this week, a woman and a man were injured in separate acid attacks in Bahawalpur.

Earlier in February, a mother of three children survived severe injuries in an acid attack in Jhugian Kundan Lal area of Pakpattan.

To counter the acid attacks, the Punjab government finalised a bill in April to regulate the sale of acid across the province in response to rising cases of such violence.

The draft law prohibits sales without a licence, bans transactions with individuals under 18, and lists 30 types of acids to be controlled.

In December 2023, the Punjab government launched the “New Life Programme” to support victims of acid attacks who often endure not only physical trauma but also financial challenges in accessing reconstructive surgeries.

The programme is the new face of an initiative launched in 2020 to treat burn victims from acid attacks and other accidents, allocating Rs100 million for burn units across various cities.

While initial treatments may address immediate concerns, acid attack victims often require multiple surgeries, with costs ranging from 60,000 to 70,000 rupees per surgery.

Fruit seller held after beating two brothers to death over Rs30 dispute

Unfortunately, these expenses fall on the affected individuals and their families, as government hospitals do not cover reconstructive surgery.

Furthermore, insurance companies in Pakistan typically exclude plastic surgery from their health policies, considering it unrelated to human health and life.