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Crime in Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Crime in Pakistan is present in various forms, especially in the cities of Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Multan, Hyderabad, Islamabad and Quetta.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Among other general crimes, it includes major crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping, armed robbery, burglary, carjacking and corruption.[9] For example, in the city of Lahore, 379 murders, 500 attempted murders, 2,650 abductions and 55 rapes have occurred in 2019.[9] A direct relationship has been identified between the crime rate and unemployment rate in Pakistan. Elevated unemployment diminishes the attractiveness of legal endeavors, consequently raising the potential gains from illicit pursuits. As a result, the likelihood of an upsurge in illegal activities rises.[10][11] Crime statistics of Pakistan shows that there is a rapid increase in the number of crime reported over time like other countries of the world, mainly due to high unemployment, rising poverty, increasing inflation and urbanization. Some other non-economic factors are also responsible for it.[12][13]
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Organised crime
Organised crime in Pakistan includes fraud, racketeering, drug trafficking, smuggling, money laundering, extortion, ransom, political violence, etc. Terrorist attacks became common during the 2000s, especially in North-West Frontier Province, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Balochistan, Karachi and Lahore. Vehicle theft is common, particularly in the large cities.[9]
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Opium production
Pakistan falls under the Golden Crescent,[14] which is one of the two major illicit opium producing centres in Asia.[15] Opium poppy cultivation in Pakistan is estimated to be 800 hectares in 2005 yielding a potential production of 4 metric tons of heroin.[16] Opium has been historically cultivated primarily in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the areas near to the border with Afghanistan.[14] Until the late 1970s, opium production levels were relatively static; it increased after 1979.[14] An estimated $4 billion is generated from drug trafficking in Pakistan.[17]
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Crimes against women
Violence against women in Pakistan, particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence, is a major public health problem and a violation of women's human rights in Pakistan.[18][19] Women in Pakistan mainly encounter violence by being forced into marriage, through workplace sexual harassment, domestic violence and by so-called honour killings.[19]
Corruption and police misconduct
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 | This article needs to be updated. (February 2024) |
Corruption in Pakistan involves fraudulent practices carried out by officials and institutions, ranging from petty bribery to high-profile scandals.[20]
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Corruption runs rampant throughout various sectors and facets of life in Pakistan, but when it comes to the prevalence of corruption, the Pakistan Police stand out as unparalleled. According to surveys and reports from international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the police force is consistently identified as the most corrupt institution in Pakistan.[23]
Rising Urban Insecurity
In July 2025, two back-to-back armed robberies at jewellery shops in Korangi, Karachi, left one 24-year-old man, Abdul Mateen Muqeem, dead and another shop looted of gold worth nearly ₹9 million. The first incident triggered a citywide outcry, with traders shutting down markets in protest and traffic brought to a standstill during Mateen’s funeral.
Despite heavy public presence and ongoing mourning, robbers struck again just hours later nearby, highlighting a growing breakdown in law and order. The failure of law enforcement agencies to deter violent crime particularly in urban centres has fueled public anger, reinforcing perceptions of institutional paralysis and an inability to ensure basic security for ordinary citizens.[24]
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See also
- Snatch theft in Karachi
- Pakistan Penal Code
- Capital punishment in Pakistan
- Human trafficking in Pakistan
- Gambling in Pakistan
- Human rights in Pakistan
- Law enforcement in Pakistan
- Rape in Pakistan
- Targeted killings in Pakistan
- Honour killing in Pakistan
- Sectarian violence in Pakistan
- Religious discrimination in Pakistan
- Terrorism in Pakistan
References
External links
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