Minority Group Highlights Spike in Sexual Crimes Amid Missing Girls Crisis

The Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) reported that Lahore recorded 498 rapes and 36 gang‑rape incidents in the first eight months of 2026. The organization warned that these figures translate to more than four sexual offences a day on average. It added that the crimes are not confined to any single area, affecting affluent neighborhoods, crowded markets, and quiet residential districts alike. VOPM stressed that the official numbers likely underestimate the true scale, as many victims refrain from filing complaints due to stigma, fear of police mistrust, and social pressure.