Punjab records rise in sex crimes in 2020, most rape cases in Lahore
Rape emerged as the most reported crime against women in Lahore in 2020 as the provincial capital recorded 4,732 cases
LAHORE: Punjab has recorded a rise in sex crimes including rape, harassment in 2020 as compared to 2019 besides witnessing the highest number of rape cases in Lahore.
Punjab reported 8,797 cases of sex crimes, kidnapping and domestic violence cases in 2020 which stood at 8,767 in 2019, according to the fourth Punjab Gender Parity Report 2019 and 2020 prepared by the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women.
The report covered six areas of justice, governance, demographics, health, education, opportunities, economic participation and special initiatives.
Rape emerged as the most reported crime against women in Lahore in 2020 as the provincial capital recorded 4,732 cases besides witnessing the highest number of domestic violence cases at 645.
However, a decrease of 3.5 per cent was recorded in such cases from158 in 2019 to 1,118 in 2020.
Lahore reported 614 cases of sex crimes out of a total of 4,056 in Punjab with an overall reduction of 0.8 per cent from 4,090 in 2019 to 4,056 in 2020.
Acid attack cases were reduced up to 24 per cent in the last two years with 37 cases reported in 2019 and 28 in 2020. Faisalabad reported the highest number of acid attack cases up to 8 this year.
The province recorded a 1.7 per cent decline in kidnapping cases, however, Lahore topped in such cases after reporting 614 cases this year.
There was a hike in honour killing cases up to 20 per cent in two years with the highest numbers of 19 each in Sargodha and Faisalabad.
The projected population of Punjab has risen to 117.7 million in 2020 as compared to 115 million in 2019. Out of the total population in 2020, 59 million were men and 57.8 million women with the proportion of 50.8 per cent and 49.1 per cent respectively.
Moreover, the projected number of transgender persons was 7,223 (0.6pc) in 2020.
