A sweeping surge in street crime across Pakistan’s major cities is fuelling anxiety among residents, damaging public morale, and raising doubts about the effectiveness of law enforcement. In a 2024 survey, 47% of respondents reported a rise in criminal activity in their neighbourhoods. This growing threat to public safety demands urgent attention.
Street Crime by the Numbers: Karachi as a Stark Example
Karachi—Pakistan’s largest metropolis—emerged as the epicentre of this trend:
Source: The News
According to the Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), the city recorded approximately 72,578 street crime incidents in 2024, including mobile snatching, car and motorcycle thefts, robberies, and assaults.
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- 66,530 cases were officially reported by November 2024; the final total is estimated at over 72,000 .
- Over 31,000 motorcycles and 46,404 entries show motorbike thefts, alongside 1,913 cars stolen, and 18,213 mobile phones snatched.
- Despite police claims of a 21% reduction in overall crime from the previous year, street criminals continued unchecked—resulting in 106 reported deaths and several hundred wounded individuals.
- Coverage by other outlets similarly noted over 44,000 street Crime incidents in just the first seven months of 2024, reinforcing the dangerous scale of the crisis.
Beyond Karachi: Crime Anxiety in Islamabad and Lahore
- In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, residents and local media warn of escalating thefts, vehicle snatchings, and tense interactions with poorly trained, slow-responding law enforcement personnel.
- Critics allege police collusion and inertia, as many First Information Reports (FIRs) go unregistered or suspects remain free.
Source: The News
- While Lahore has reported a 46% drop in heinous crimes—with reductions in robberies and vehicle theft—the broader picture across the country remains bleak..
Driving Forces Behind the Surge
- Economic Hardship: Rising unemployment and inflation have pushed vulnerable segments toward crime as a survival strategy, especially in dense, underserved neighbourhoods.
- Weak Policing Systems: Islamabad’s response times lag behind global standards; conviction rates for melee crimes hover around 20%, weakening deterrence.
- Gangs and Banditry: Networks such as the “Bandits of Katcha” continue to operate freely, especially in Sindh and South Punjab, where they engage in kidnapping, extortion, and highway robbery—often with impunity.
Perceptions of Danger and Societal Impact
- In a 2024 national poll, 47% of citizens said street crime had increased in their neighbourhood—fostering widespread fear and altering behaviours like night travel and use of public transport.
- Reddit users from Islamabad have compared the city’s current trajectory to “Karachi 2.0,” emphasising how mobile snatching and theft have become a daily concern even in previously secure sectors.
Systemic Shortfalls in Accountability
- Citizens report innumerable instances of police refusing to register FIRs, especially in areas with frequent gang activity. Public trust in law enforcement has eroded significantly.
- Lack of dedicated investigative units, insufficient forensic tools, and slow legal processes contribute to persistent impunity—for both petty criminals and organised gangs alike.
Policy Recommendations for Restoring Public Safety
| Initiative | Description |
|---|---|
| Community Policing & CCTV Deployment | Expand foot patrols, neighbourhood watch schemes, and surveillance in hotspots to deter criminal activity—proven effective in global urban centres and pilot areas in Pakistan. |
| Rapid-Response Units & Crime Mapping | Establish mobile units and integrate the use of real-time data analytics to target high-risk zones more efficiently. |
| Strengthen Investigative Capacity | Deploy Crime Control Departments and invest in technology-based investigations and evidence gathering patiently. |
| Judicial Reforms | Fast-track trials for street crime offences and raise conviction certainty to reinforce deterrent effects. |
| Economic & Youth Engagement | Develop social programs to combat youth marginalisation and create pathways away from crime. |
Why Crime Data Must Spark Reform
The rise in street crime across Pakistan’s urban centres is more than an issue of law enforcement—it reflects broader social fractures and systemic neglect. With nearly half the population reporting increased insecurity in their locality, the stakes are high.
Addressing this crisis requires not only enhanced policing but broader governmental reforms: accountability, transparency, community engagement, and socio-economic inclusion. Without these, the escalating sense of everyday danger risks becoming a defining feature of urban Pakistan—and a barrier to progress and prosperity.
