Punjab sees 5% spike in crime, with 57,000 news cases

Despite the police and other law enforcement agencies in Punjab reporting a declining trend of crime, a recent report indicated a 5% increase in criminal cases compared to 2023.

Pakistan's largest province saw a noticeable increase in criminal cases, including killings during resistance to robbery, rape, and child sexual assault.

Statistics published by Geo News showed a 5% spike in criminal cases in Punjab, with 1,067,000 cases registered compared to 1,010,000 last year, an increase of 57,000 cases.

However, police officials argued that they had improved their system for registering cases, making it easier for individuals to file reports immediately after the incident, which led to a spike in the number of registered cases.

Punjab Police claimed that the crime rate in the province had decreased, but on the other hand, the Punjab Police's crime record for 2024 contradicted these claims.

According to police records, a total of more than 10,067,000 cases were registered in the province during 11 and a half months, including 233 cases of murder during robbery, 1,262 cases of gang rape of women, and 3,880 cases of sexual assault against minors.

Records also included 85 cases of kidnapping for ransom and 504 murders.

DIG Operations Lahore, Faisal Kamran, claims the crime rate has declined, as the total number of reported crimes decreased by 50,000 compared to last year. Meanwhile, the Investigation and Organised Crimes Unit solved hundreds of cases and brought the accused to justice.