Report shows surge in female imprisonment across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A report presented to the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights on Tuesday revealed that there are currently 16,832 women imprisoned across Pakistan.

The report was presented by the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) to the committee on Tuesday. The total number of incarcerated women in 2023 marks a significant increase of 57 per cent compared to the previous year. 4,013 female prisoners in were imprisoned in 2021, 5,700 in 2022, and 6,309 in 2023.

The province of Punjab has the highest number of female prisoners, totalling 13,065 from January 2021 to December 2023. This is followed by Sindh with 3,439. While, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have 209 and 119 female prisoners, respectively.

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The report also highlights the overcrowded conditions in Punjab prisons, with approximately 1,227 female prisoners’ capacity and a current population of 13,065.

The data also showed a concerning disparity in the legal status of female prisoners. Out of the total female prisoners in Punjab, only 12,258 are under trial, constituting 93 per cent of the total population.

Meanwhile, 767 female prisoners have already been convicted, and 40 are on death row.