By Rimsha Azhar

To be a woman in Pakistan is to live in a state of constant self-surveillance. Every step outside involves calculation: of risk, of judgment, of rules that were never hers to write. While men gather freely at chai dhabas and stroll through cities without fear, women adhere to restricted hours, guarded movements, and layers of caution. Their presence in public is not assumed; it is negotiated. There is a stark contrast in how the same streets are experienced. For many men, going out is a form of release. They notice the breeze, the shifting colours of the sky, the camaraderie of spontaneous gatherings. For women, those same streets are territories of potential harm. A walk is not a chance to relax, but a tightrope act of vigilance. She is focused not on the scenery but on exit points, proximity of strangers, and the quiet threat embedded in every passing glance. This is not about isolated incidents but a pattern deeply woven into social life. A man may wander aimlessly at night to clear his head; a woman may think twice before stepping out at all. She plans her return before she leaves. She chooses........

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