CHITRAL: The local social activists have observed a drastic shift of the tendency of suicide among women to the men as during the last six months one woman committed suicide against six men.

Najma Ashraf, a women rights activist, told Dawn that the data gathered from the local police containing the period of first-half of the year showed that the percentage of women suicide was only 14 unlike the past.

She said that as per record of the last 10 years available with her organisation, the proportion of women suicides had been quite high as it remained more than 80 per cent and 99 per cent of them jumped into the river to end their lives.

Regarding the possible factor of the decline in the number of suicide of women, Ms Ashraf mentioned establishment of shelter home for distressed women and posting of a woman as district police officer in the district.

She said that the woman police chief of the district visited almost every valley of the district and addressed the gathering of women encouraging them to call her directly in case of distress and agonising situation.

She said that since its establishment in the beginning of the year, the shelter home provided instant support to a good number of distressed women and it might have contributed to the decrease in the number of suicide by women.

RENOVATION: Refurbishment and renovation work of town hall was completed by the district administration, which providing all necessary facilities to it for holding seminars, conferences and workshops.

At a function held here on Thursday, Commandant of Chitral Task Force Col Ali Zafar and Deputy Commissioner Hasan Abid inaugurated the hall.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner has fixed Sundays as reserved day for families in Osama Shaheed Park while no person without family will be allowed to enter the premises.

In a statement, it was stated that the decision was taken on the demand of people as there was no other public park in the city providing outing facility to the families.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2021