**KP Justice Sector Achieves Gender Parity in Landmark Forensic Training at PFSA Lahore**
In a significant stride for gender inclusion within Pakistan’s justice system, a landmark three-day training on Forensic Investigation Techniques brought together equal numbers of male and female judicial officers, police officials, and prosecutors from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) at the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) in Lahore. The event, supported by the German Embassy’s Gender Parity Project, marks a transformative milestone for balanced representation in the justice sector.
Hosted at PFSA Lahore, the comprehensive training session united key stakeholders of KP’s justice institutions, including members from the KP Judicial Academy (KPJA), senior civil judges, public prosecutors, and police officials. The initiative was organized as part of continued efforts to foster gender parity and professional excellence within the sector.
For the first time at an event of this scale, gender parity was front and center: 16 women—including high-ranking judges, prosecutors, and police officials—participated alongside 16 male counterparts. This achievement is particularly notable in a field that has traditionally been dominated by men, underscoring a growing shift towards inclusivity within Pakistan’s legal landscape.
The training focused on practical and theoretical modules designed to deepen participants’ understanding of forensic investigation practices. Emphasis was placed on linking courtroom procedures with crime scene forensics, equipping justice sector professionals to integrate scientific methods into the legal process. Special attention was given to cases involving gender-based violence and complex criminal matters, where forensic skills play a critical role in ensuring just outcomes.
What set this training apart was not only its technical rigor, but also the visibility and leadership of women across all aspects of the justice sector. Their robust participation served as a powerful symbol of cultural change, empowering women to occupy decision-making roles—from the courtroom to the crime scene—and challenging traditional norms.
This initiative is part of a wider movement to build a more inclusive, accountable, and responsive justice system across KP and Pakistan. The representation and leadership of women in such programs are instrumental in shaping both legal practices and institutional cultures, fostering environments where equality and justice can thrive.
The Gender Parity Project, with sustained support from international partners and local leadership, continues to provide a blueprint for equitable development within Pakistan’s justice sector, paving the way for more balanced and effective governance.
