Helpline 1815: Pakistan launches first women only digital police station

Dubai: Pakistan’s first fully women only digital police station has opened in Islamabad, providing round-the-clock support for women, children, and other vulnerable individuals through a dedicated helpline: 1815.

The initiative, announced by Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, marks a major step forward in the digitisation of law enforcement and protection services.

The station handles complaints of domestic abuse, gender-based violence, and other crimes targeting women and children. With video calling and online chat capabilities, victims can now file FIRs from their homes, eliminating the need to physically visit a police station.

“Our First Responder Unit reaches complainants within five to seven minutes,” said IG Rizvi, adding that female officers handle all aspects of the helpline, from initial calls to investigation and follow-ups.

To further streamline response, emergency calls made to the general police helpline 15 are now redirected to 1815 using AI-powered technology, ensuring no distress call goes unanswered.

Tech-driven policing

Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who inaugurated the Online Women Police Station and the new Info mobile app at Islamabad’s Safe City Headquarters, praised the Islamabad Police for embracing modern tools to protect citizens.

“The app enables real-time emergency complaint registration and reflects our commitment to technology-driven public safety,” Naqvi said. He called for continued enhancement of digital platforms to provide instant aid to those in crisis.

Safe city expansion

During the inauguration, IG Rizvi also shared updates on the Safe City Islamabad project. Currently operating with 3,100 surveillance cameras across the capital, the network is being doubled to 6,200 to strengthen security. The surveillance system has already contributed to solving major cases. Minister Naqvi instructed that Islamabad’s Safe City model be linked with similar projects across provinces and integrated further with artificial intelligence for predictive policing.

First woman SHO

Earlier, Sub-Inspector Misbah Shehbaz was appointed last month as Station House Officer (SHO) at Phulgran Police Station, becoming the first woman to head a general (men’s) police station in Islamabad.

According to reports, the appointment was made through formal orders issued by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Muhammad Jawad Tariq, who said the move was intended to “end gender discrimination within the Islamabad Police.”

“This initiative will continue and more female officers will be given the opportunity to lead police stations,” Tariq added.

The SHO is one of the most visible and operationally significant leadership roles in Pakistan’s police hierarchy, responsible for crime investigation, public safety, and station-level administration.

According to the National Police Bureau (NPB) and UN Women Pakistan, as of 2023, women made up only 3.2% of Pakistan’s total police force.