Is there a single national domestic violence law that applies across Pakistan?

No. Following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, social welfare, local policing, and domestic affairs were devolved to the provinces. Each province has enacted its own distinct domestic violence legislation: Punjab (Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016), Sindh (Sindh Domestic Violence Act 2013), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP Domestic Violence Act 2021), and Balochistan (Balochistan Domestic Violence Act 2014). Islamabad Capital Territory is governed by its dedicated federal domestic violence act.

What is the difference between Punjab helpline 1043 and helpline 1737?

Punjab maintains two distinct, specialized women helplines: 1737 (or toll-free 0800-01737) is operated by the Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) specifically for immediate violence response, police rescue, and crisis intervention. In contrast, 1043 is operated by the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) for comprehensive legal advice, psycho-social counseling, workplace harassment inquiries, and property/inheritance disputes.

What is a court protection order under Pakistani domestic violence law?

A Protection Order is a legally binding judicial decree issued by a Magistrate restraining an abusive respondent from committing acts of domestic violence, entering the workplace or residence of the survivor, contacting her directly, or possessing weapons. Courts can also issue Residence Orders (preventing the aggressor from evicting the woman from the shared home) and Monetary Orders (mandating maintenance, child support, and medical compensation).

How can a woman access a government Dar-ul-Aman shelter home?

Dar-ul-Aman shelters are state-run temporary safe havens operated by provincial Social Welfare Departments across all major districts. Admission is facilitated through a referral from a Judicial Magistrate, a notified Women Protection Officer, or an official police intake following a helpline call. In accordance with safety protocols, shelter home physical addresses are kept confidential to protect residents from retaliatory violence.

Are calls to women protection helplines in Pakistan free of charge?

Yes. Official emergency and counseling helplines—including 1043 and 0800-01737 in Punjab, 1094 in Sindh, 0800-22227 in KP, 1089 in Balochistan, and 1099 nationwide—are toll-free services accessible from mobile phones and landlines across Pakistan.

CIVIC SAFETY & LEGAL AID DIRECTORYSTATUTORY PROVINCIAL DIRECTORY 2026

Women's Protection & Domestic Violence Helplines in Pakistan (2026): All Provinces & Legal Guideپاکستان میں خواتین کے تحفظ اور گھریلو تشدد کی ہیلپ لائنز: تمام صوبوں کی تصدیق شدہ ڈائریکٹری و عدالتی طریقہ کار

A calm, comprehensive, and non-judgmental directory of statutory support services, emergency numbers, court protection orders, and safe shelters across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Islamabad.

In Short

Verified Summary

Audio Guide:

How to Check or Verify: What Are the Official Women Protection Helplines in Pakistan?

For women facing domestic violence or harassment in Pakistan, verified official helplines are provincial: In Punjab, call 1737 / 0800-01737 (violence emergency) or 1043 (legal counseling); in Sindh, call 1094; in KP, call 0800-22227 (Bolo); in Balochistan, call 1089; in Islamabad, call 8090 or nationwide human rights helpline 1099. For immediate danger, dial police at 15.

Immediate Physical Danger Protocol

If You or Someone You Know is in Immediate Danger

If you are in acute, life-threatening danger, take these immediate, actionable steps in a calm manner:

Dial 15 (Police)

Pakistan’s universal police emergency response line for rapid squad dispatch to your location.

Provincial Helpline

Dial your provincial emergency line (e.g., 1737 in Punjab, 1094 in Sindh, 0800-22227 in KP).

Safety Packing

If planning to leave, keep your CNIC, children’s B-forms, mobile phone, charger, and emergency cash ready.

Calls to government women helplines are free, private, and will not show on itemized phone bills as charged calls.

Why Domestic Violence Laws Differ by Province in Pakistan

A common misconception among citizens is searching for a single national "Pakistan Domestic Violence Act". Under the 18th Constitutional Amendment (2010), subjects relating to social welfare, local policing, and women’s development were devolved entirely to provincial assemblies.

Because of this constitutional architecture, each province has enacted its own dedicated domestic violence law, administered by its own provincial Women Development Department, Commission on the Status of Women, and specialized protection authority. A protection order granted in Punjab follows the Punjab Act 2016, whereas a case in Karachi follows the Sindh Act 2013.

Verified Provincial Helplines & Support Directory

Select your province below to view verified toll-free helplines, governing commissions, local institutional bodies, and fallback advice if cellular coverage is limited:

Statutory Provincial System24/7 Nationwide Toll-Free Access

Punjab Women Protection Directory

Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016 (PPWVA)

Supervising Authority:Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) & Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW)

Primary Helpline

1737 / 0800-01737

PWPA Emergency Violence Response Helpline (24/7)

Toll-Free Call

Specialized / Secondary Line

1043

PCSW Women Helpline (Legal Advice, Inquiries & Counseling)

Inquiries & Legal Aid

Support Services Available Under This Province’s System

✓Immediate rescue and emergency police dispatch in domestic violence situations

✓Free legal advice, psychosocial counseling, and dispute resolution via Helpline 1043

✓Assistance in filing for Court Protection Orders, Residence Orders, and Monetary Orders

✓Direct intake and medical/legal facilitation through Violence Against Women Centres (VAWCs)

✓Safe referral to government-supervised Dar-ul-Aman shelter homes

Institutional Infrastructure & Centers

Operates dedicated Violence Against Women Centres (flagship VAWC in Multan, expanded across districts) and District Women Protection Committees (DWPCs) headed by Women Protection Officers.

Fallback Guidance (If Cellular Call Fails)

If calling from an area with weak cellular connectivity, you can also dial PWPA head office at 042-99333817 or visit any district Police Khidmat Markaz (PKM) or District Social Welfare Office.

Official Government Portal: pwpa.punjab.gov.pk / pcsw.punjab.gov.pkVisit Government Portal

Court Orders Explained: Protection, Residence & Monetary Rights

A critical feature of provincial domestic violence laws is that a woman does not have to file a criminal FIR or send a family member to jail to obtain immediate legal safety. Judicial Magistrates possess statutory authority to issue civil interim relief:

1. Protection Order

Restrains the aggressor from committing any act of violence, entering the workplace, educational institution, or place frequently visited by the survivor, communicating with her in any form, or possessing weapons. Breach of a protection order constitutes an arrestable criminal offense.

2. Residence Order

Prevents the aggressor from unlawfully evicting or dispossessing the woman from the shared household (regardless of whether she holds property ownership rights). The magistrate can also order the aggressor to relocate or provide suitable alternate accommodation.

3. Monetary & Maintenance Order

Directs the respondent to pay monthly household maintenance, cover children’s educational expenses, reimburse medical expenses incurred due to physical injuries, and pay compensation for mental trauma or damage to personal property.

4. Temporary Custody Order

Grants temporary custody of minor children to the mother during the pendency of proceedings, preventing the aggressor from forcibly separating young children from their mother.

Step-by-Step Official Protection & Legal Workflow

Statutory procedure under provincial domestic violence acts

VERIFIED PROCESS FLOW

Emergency1

Secure Immediate Physical Safety

If in acute physical danger, dial 15 (Police) or your provincial women emergency line. If planning to leave, discretely secure your CNIC, children’s birth records, phone, and essential medicines.

ℹ️Your physical safety is always the first priority.

Toll-Free2

Connect with Provincial Helpline

Call the verified toll-free helpline for your jurisdiction: Punjab (1737 / 1043), Sindh (1094), KP (0800-22227), Balochistan (1089), or Federal (1099). All calls are confidential and handled by female operators.

ℹ️Operators provide confidential guidance, police dispatch, and counseling.

Evidence3

Medical Care & Medico-Legal Certificate (MLC)

If physical assault occurred, visit a government THQ/DHQ hospital or Violence Against Women Centre (VAWC). Request an official Medico-Legal Examination to document injuries for court proceedings.

ℹ️An MLC serves as essential clinical evidence in judicial hearings.

Court Decree4

Petition for Statutory Protection Orders

Through a Women Protection Officer or government legal aid lawyer, file an application before the Judicial Magistrate. The court can prohibit the aggressor from contacting you and enforce your residence rights.

ℹ️Civil protection orders can be granted without mandatory criminal jail trials.

Follow steps in direct numerical order. Avoid unverified middle-men or agents.PAKISTAN INFO HUB • 2026 DIRECTORY

Specialized Support Facilities: VAWCs & Dar-ul-Aman Safe Shelters

Violence Against Women Centres (VAWCs)

Pioneered under the Punjab Act 2016 (with flagship facilities operating in Multan and Lahore), Violence Against Women Centres operate on an integrated "one-stop-shop" model. Instead of requiring a survivor to travel across multiple police stations, hospitals, and courtrooms, a VAWC houses first-aid medical care, Medico-Legal Examination (MLC), female police reporting desks, psychological counseling, and legal prosecution teams under a single secure roof.

Dar-ul-Aman (State Shelter Homes)

Dar-ul-Aman shelter homes are government-supervised safe residences maintained by provincial Social Welfare Departments in almost every administrative district. They offer free lodging, food, medical attention, vocational training, and childcare support for women in crisis.

Why Addresses Are Confidential: In accordance with statutory safety guidelines and official government practice, the physical street addresses of Dar-ul-Aman shelters are intentionally not published online to protect the physical security of residents from retaliatory violence. Referral and safe escort are arranged directly by Judicial Magistrates, Women Protection Officers, or police after helpline intake.

Frequently Asked Questions (Citizen Safety Guidance)

Verified legal, operational & helpline clarifications

Verified Answers

Domestic violence in Pakistan is governed primarily by provincial legislation, as social welfare and local law enforcement were devolved to provinces under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. Each province has its own statute: Punjab enacted the Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016; Sindh passed the Domestic Violence (Protection and Prevention) Act 2013; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa enacted the Domestic Violence against Women Act 2021; and Balochistan enacted the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2014. Islamabad Capital Territory has its own dedicated federal statute.

Punjab maintains two distinct, specialized women services: Helpline 1737 (also reachable toll-free as 0800-01737) is operated by the Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) specifically for immediate violence response, emergency rescue, and physical protection center facilitation. Helpline 1043 is operated by the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) for legal advice, psycho-social counseling, workplace harassment inquiries, and property/inheritance rights.

Under provincial domestic violence statutes, a magistrate can grant four primary civil remedies: (1) Protection Orders restraining the aggressor from contacting, approaching, or threatening the survivor; (2) Residence Orders ensuring the woman cannot be evicted from the shared marital household, or ordering the respondent to secure alternative accommodation; (3) Monetary Orders awarding maintenance, household living expenses, children’s educational costs, and medical damages; and (4) Custody Orders temporarily awarding custody of minor children to the mother.

Dar-ul-Aman shelters are state-run safe havens operating across all major districts under provincial Social Welfare Departments. Admission is granted through an order from a Judicial Magistrate, a referral from a designated Women Protection Officer (WPO), or an intake via the provincial women helpline or police. In accordance with strict protection protocols, the physical addresses of Dar-ul-Aman shelter homes are intentionally kept confidential by the government to prevent retaliatory violence or unauthorized contact by respondents.

If mobile network routing prevents connecting to a 4-digit shortcode (such as 1043, 1094, or 1089), you can: (1) Dial the nationwide Ministry of Human Rights toll-free helpline at 1099, which connects universally across all telecom operators; (2) Call the standard police emergency number at 15; or (3) Directly visit the District Social Welfare Office or Women Police Desk located at your nearest Tehsil or District Headquarters.

Official Sources & Statutory References

Information in this directory is compiled directly from provincial legislation, official commission portals, and verified government hotlines:

Punjab: Punjab Women Protection Authority (pwpa.punjab.gov.pk, Helpline 1737 / 0800-01737) & Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (pcsw.punjab.gov.pk, Helpline 1043).
Sindh: Women Development Department, Government of Sindh (wdd.sindh.gov.pk, Helpline 1094) under Sindh Act XX of 2013.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Social Welfare & Women Empowerment Department (swkpk.gov.pk, Bolo Helpline 0800-22227) & KPCSW (kpcsw.gov.pk) under KP Act XXII of 2021.
Balochistan: Women Development Department, Government of Balochistan (balochistan.gov.pk, Helpline 1089) under Balochistan Act II of 2014.
Federal & Nationwide: Ministry of Human Rights (mohr.gov.pk, Helpline 1099) & ICT Police Gender Protection Unit (Helpline 8090 / 1815).

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Independent Civic Information Portal Disclaimer

Pakistan Info Hub (pakistaninfohub.com) is an independent public directory committed to spreading awareness of citizen rights and institutional remedies. We are NOT a government authority, police department, or emergency response unit. In any life-threatening or immediate crisis, please dial 15 (Police Emergency) or your provincial toll-free women helpline immediately.