The news of a Pakistani woman gang-raped onboard the Bahauddin Zakariya Express by three staffers jolted the entire country. The unfortunate news has not only damaged the country’s reputation globally but also has countless women concerned for their safety. Following the incident, the Government of Pakistan announced a new app called ‘Safar Saheli‘.
The instructions on how to download and use the application will be printed on every ticket, along with an emergency number. To create awareness amongst the masses, the government intends to launch a full-fledged campaign which will spread the word through posters, handouts, pamphlets, announcements at the railway stations, and electronic broadcasting.
Safar Saheli is one of the many safety and security measures that PM Shebaz Sharif has announced, among the deployment of the Lady Railway Police Force (LRPF) at railway stations to ensure safe passage for female passengers.
Salman Sufi, the lead of PM’s Strategic Reforms team has shared that multiple teams composed of a lady sub-inspector and 2 female constables will be placed at railway stations.
That’s not all, an SOS button will also be installed in the trains next to CCTV cameras in each bogie. Asides from the team of the lady police force, a video surveillance system will be set up on the premises of the railway station to monitor sensitive locations.
Moreover, the government plans on using a face recognition camera application to trace the culprits and their previous (if any) track records to ensure they get the punishment they deserve. All private employees will be screened and a background check will be placed by a special security branch before awarding contracts for outsourced trains.
Cases of rape and attempted rape of women and children have seen a staggering increase in Pakistan. We advise parents not to send their children to shops or any place alone especially if they are minors. Moreover, when in public or on the go, always be alert, and observe your surroundings, if you feel a threat or if something seems out of place, inform the nearest police or uniform official.
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