Key Highlights:
- Pakistan has launched its first women-only digital police station in Islamabad, offering 24/7 support via helpline 1815 to address domestic abuse, gender-based violence, and crimes against women and children.
- Victims can now file FIRs remotely through video calls and online chat, while AI integration ensures emergency calls to 15 are automatically redirected to the new helpline.
- The initiative includes the launch of a mobile app, expansion of Safe City surveillance, and the appointment of the first female SHO at a general police station, signaling efforts to modernize and gender-balance law enforcement.
Pakistan has launched its first fully women-only digital police station in Islamabad, enabling women, children, and other vulnerable individuals to report crimes online through a dedicated, round-the-clock helpline: 1815.
The initiative, led by Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, marks a significant advancement in the digital transformation of the country’s law enforcement and victim protection services.
This pioneering digital police station is specifically tasked with handling cases of domestic violence, gender-based crimes, and other offenses affecting women and children. With features such as video calls and live chat, the system enables victims to register FIRs from the comfort of their own homes, eliminating the need to physically visit a police station.
“Our First Responder Unit reaches complainants within five to seven minutes,” said IG Rizvi. He further explained that female police officers are responsible for managing all stages of the complaint process from the initial contact to the investigation and subsequent follow-ups.
To ensure every emergency call is addressed, the general police helpline 15 is now integrated with helpline 1815 using artificial intelligence technology. This setup guarantees that all distress calls are redirected and responded to without delay.
Tech-Powered Law Enforcement
Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, who officially inaugurated the Online Women Police Station and introduced the new Info mobile app at Islamabad’s Safe City Headquarters, commended the Islamabad Police for leveraging modern technology to enhance public safety.
“The app enables real-time emergency complaint registration and reflects our commitment to technology-driven public safety,” Naqvi stated. He also emphasized the need for continuous development of digital tools to deliver immediate support to individuals in crisis.
Expanding Safe City Surveillance
During the launch event, IG Rizvi also provided updates on the Safe City Islamabad initiative. Currently, the city operates with 3,100 surveillance cameras, with plans to expand this network to 6,200 cameras to enhance public security. The existing system has already played a crucial role in solving high-profile criminal cases. Minister Naqvi also instructed authorities to integrate Islamabad’s Safe City model with similar surveillance projects in other provinces, and to further incorporate artificial intelligence for predictive policing capabilities.
Breaking Barriers: First Female SHO
In a related milestone, Sub-Inspector Misbah Shehbaz was appointed last month as the Station House Officer (SHO) of Phulgran Police Station, making her the first woman to lead a general (men’s) police station in Islamabad.
The appointment, according to reports, came through official directives issued by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Muhammad Jawad Tariq, who stated that the decision aims to “end gender discrimination within the Islamabad Police.”
“This initiative will continue and more female officers will be given the opportunity to lead police stations,” Tariq added.
The role of SHO is one of the most prominent and critical positions in Pakistan’s police structure, involving responsibilities such as overseeing criminal investigations, maintaining public order, and managing administrative tasks at the station level.
As per data from the National Police Bureau (NPB) and UN Women Pakistan, women constituted only 3.2% of the country’s total police force as of 2023.
