Harassment of Women in Pakistan: Analyzing Factors Influencing Women’s Digital Safety

Harassment has emerged as a critical threat to women’s participation in workplaces and digital spaces globally. In Pakistan, rapid internet penetration, smartphone proliferation, and misuse of social media through fake identities have expanded opportunities for women in education, employment, and civic engagement while simultaneously increasing vulnerability to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). Forms of TFGBV including cyberstalking, cyberbullying, online threats, identity theft, image-based abuse, non-consensual dissemination of intimate content, and coordinated harassment campaigns are rising. Despite PECA 2016, digital abuse continues to undermine women’s psychological well-being, confidence, freedom of expression, and public contribution. This study examines factors influencing women’s online safety in Pakistan through social, cultural, technological, legal, and institutional lenses. Using qualitative desk research of National Police Bureau data, Ministry of Human Rights reports, Digital Rights Foundation helpline data 2022-2025, FIA cybercrime statistics, Federal Ombudsperson records, and academic literature, the study analyzes the multidimensional nature of digital harassment. Findings show 173,367 cases of violence against women registered 2021-2024 with a 101% increase over four years. Cyber harassment complaints rose from 2,695 in 2022 to 3,171 in 2024. Women in journalism, politics, activism, and public advocacy face disproportionate abuse. While PECA 2016 provides legal recourse, implementation gaps, low conviction rates below 2.5%, institutional capacity constraints, and limited public awareness reduce effectiveness. Emerging threats from AI, deepfakes, and automated abuse compound risks. The study concludes that improving women’s digital safety requires multidimensional action: stronger legal enforcement, enhanced digital literacy, platform accountability, victim support mechanisms, gender-sensitive policymaking, and collaboration among government, civil society, educational institutions, and technology companies. This research contributes to TFGBV scholarship and offers evidence-based recommendations for safer digital environments in Pakistan.