SAHIWAL: A gender protection unit and a gender library opened at the civil lines police station and regional police office (RPO) on Sunday.

Financial and technical assistance for both the unit and the library was given by Group Development Pakistan and UK Aid. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Alex Ballinger, representative of the British High Commission, RPO Dr Moeen Masood, and Commissioner Ali Bahadur Qazi.

The district police officers of Sahiwal, Vehari, and Pakpattan, the health director and academicians from the University of Sahiwal also attended the ceremony.

Dawn learned the gender protection unit and the gender library will be used to train police officials on gender-based violence, women’s rights, gender crimes and child marriages. The gender library will work as a resource and data centre related to gender violence and gender education. Dawn learnt from sources before establishing both units, police officials, especially station house officers and senior investigation officers from the three districts, were sensitized on handling gender-related crimes from a gender justice perspective.

Dr Masood said he would ensure that cops get habits of book reading and using the library for their own gender sensitization and gender-related crimes.

He said the department is pursuing a policy to bring more and more women police officials into the investigation force.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2022