Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa show lower GBV numbers but conceal severe outcomes

While Punjab dominates the headline numbers, the provinces of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reveal troubling patterns beneath their lower totals. Sindh recorded 25,107 gender‑based crimes over the five‑year period, representing 10.6 % of the country’s total. Kidnapping and abduction formed the bulk of these offenses – 19,289 cases or roughly 77 % of Sindh’s GBV filings.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, home to 16.5 % of Pakistan’s citizens, reported 10,210 cases (4.3 % of the national figure). Within the province, domestic‑violence reports are especially alarming: out of 2,334 documented incidents, 1,197 resulted in the victim’s death.

These statistics suggest that while the absolute numbers are smaller, the severity and fatality rates in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may be disproportionately high, pointing to gaps in protection, investigation and support for victims.