More than 80 percent of Pakistan’s population believes that the country is not safe for women, a PULSE perception Quarterly Performance Evaluation Survey (QPES) has revealed.
The greatest uncertainty regarding women’s safety came from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, followed by Punjab.
According to the survey, 29 percent women feel they are safe outside the premises of their homes. The survey also showed that 22 percent men in society consider women less safe, compared to the 29 percent of female respondents who felt the same.
The survey also showed that 45 percent men believe their female family members are “somewhat safe” and 30 percent believe their female family members are “unsafe” outside their homes.
The survey was conducted through computer assisted telephonic interviews. QPES is Pulse consultant’s indigenous tracking tool – where since November 2018, the public perceptions and opinions about government’s performance and current political situation are collected on a quarterly basis.
The findings of the survey were based on interviews with 1,809 respondents, who were interviewed on October 4, 2021.
The survey showed that only 20 percent Pakistanis feel that women are safe in Pakistan; 43 percent believe that women are “somewhat safe.”
As many as 35 percent of Pakistanis believe that women are entirely not safe in Pakistan. Highest perception of “unsafety” was reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was 46 percent, and Punjab stood second, reporting 35 percent perception of ‘unsafety.’
As many as 19 percent respondents in KP, 21 percent in Punjab, 24 percent in Sindh and 7 percent in Balochistan believed women are “very safe” in the country.
The perception of ‘unsafety’ was reported highest (45 percent) by lowest socio-economic class. Respondents from the middle class reported that women are somewhat safe.
The study showed that only 29 percent of the Pakistani females feel that they are ‘safe’ when they go outside their homes.
However, 35 percent of females believe that they are “somewhat safe” and similar population (35 percent) believes that they are absolutely “unsafe” when they move in society.
The highest perception of “unsafety” was again reported from KP (46 percent), followed by Punjab (36 percent).
Nearly 51 percent of female respondents from the upper class and 38 percent from lowest class have a concern about safety when commuting outside the home.
Interestingly, males consider females less safe (22 percent) in Pakistan compared to female respondents (29 percent).
