Shazia Sarwar as first female from Balochistan to head Punjab district
The first female District Police Officer (DPO) in Punjab, where women make up barely 2.25% of the entire police force, is Balochistan police officer SP Shazia Sarwar.
The Punjab government nominated SP Shazia Sarwar as District Police Officer (DPO) of Layyah on a vacant position in order to send a positive message to individuals joining the federal services from the less privileged province.
A police official claims that SP Sarwar is the sixth policewoman to assume the rank of DPO in Punjab and the first officer with a Balochistani residence.
The DPOs for Bhakkar, Bahawalnagar, Sargodha, Pakpattan, and Layyah during the previous four years or so were SP Shaista Rehman (from the 36th common), SP Amara Ather (from the 36th common), SP Maria Mahmood (from the 36th common), and SP Nida Umar (from the 36th common).
An important policy change for the Punjab police was brought about as a result of discussions the current IGP Faisal Shahkar conducted to increase the proportion of female officers and end male dominance in all ranks.
Approximately 200,000 people work for the Punjab Police, but only 4,500 of them are female officers, and only a small proportion of them are able to rise to the high level of DIG or higher, the official said.
He lamented the fact that the department, which is dominated by men, frequently makes it too difficult for policewomen to fit in. He asserted that no one could be appointed as a regional police officer because of the culture in place today, which has reinforced male dominance.
Shazia Sarwar as first female from Balochistan to head Punjab district
Only 4,500 female officers out of the roughly 200,000 total employees work for the Punjab Police, and only a small percentage of them are able to advance to the high level of DIG or higher, the official said.
He bemoaned the fact that policewomen frequently find it too difficult to fit in at the department, which is predominately male. Due to the current culture, which has supported male domination, no one could be posted as a regional police officer, he claimed.
