PESHAWAR: Family pressure and strict selection criteria were barring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa women from joining the police force, said a survey, as the provincial law enforcement agency tries to diversify it.

The results were shared during a two-day seminar titled ‘Women in Police’ organised by Rozan. Peshawar based journalists participated in it.

Organiser Muhammad Ali said that most of the girls from KP cannot join the police because of their “family pressure” while some were interested but could not “meet the criteria”. He asked the journalists to play their role in encouraging women to join the police.

“At least 1,062 women are working in KP Police. They constitute less than 1 per cent of the total force,” showed data sent to Aaj News by Ayesha Gul, province’s first assistant inspector general (AIG).

As many as 70,000 police personnel were providing security to total population of 26 million, said the official website.

There should be a sufficient number to carry out all functions smoothly as per international standards. “In Pakistan, we aim for 10% of the total strength.”

The KP police have been running campaigns to have active participation of women in the force. They have maintained policing was a service, not just a job.

Over the last few months, they have been the target of banned outfits. More than 60 police personnel died in KP this year, said official statistics. Sources said that they were a soft target for militants as police were the first line of defence in the city.