Whether criminalisation of domestic violence in Sindh, Balochistan and, more recently, Punjab has significantly decreased the prevalence of gender crimes there has not yet been ascertained. Keeping reservations about the degree of actual effectiveness of the legislations aside, lawmakers in these provinces should still be appreciated for steadfastly spurring towards change despite the vehement opposition of “unIslamic law(s)” by religious groups. Unfortunately, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has yet to even pass, let alone implement, a relevant legislation that would hold the power to tackle its fast deteriorating state of women protection. This horrific but unchecked extent of honour crimes and domestic violence was lamented by Aurat Foundation, an organisation working for women’s right, who implored the provincial government to focus its attention on the multifaceted challenges braved by its women. It cannot be denied that domestic violence is an ill that only plagues Pakistani society. However, the discomforting ease with which both our society and the authorities continue to ignore, allow, and even rationalise gender-based violence is only unique to South Asian countries. This deep-seated misogyny that seems to have desensitised us towards violence against women was also reflected in the findings of a UN report in February. While over 30 percent of girls between the ages of 15-19 were found to have experienced physical or social violence in Pakistan, around 53 percent of them seemed permissive of domestic violence, particularly at the hands of a husband. Since most women are targeted inside the security of their own homes, such acts of aggression are often endured to maintain the facade of a “happy” family. Girls are usually preconditioned to rationalise circumstances that might have forced the perpetrator to carry out the domestic violence threats. In lieu of establishing a society that condemns violence in all forms and against everyone, what we have facilitated is an outrageous two-tier human rights system that condones crimes against women as a male prerogative. This societal apathy is also blatantly reflected in the oblivion of the government, which has significantly failed to address the increasingly gruesome scale of exploitation and abuse. A 2016 report by the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan recorded more than a thousand honour crimes and said that almost 800 women had attempted suicide. Reports by other social organisations also point towards the blatant misogyny that targets at least one in every five Pakistani women in some form of gender violence. While legislations in other provinces should be amended to include mechanisms that can enforce a rigorous criminalisation of all gender offences, it is high time that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government wakes up to empathise and safeguard its women. In order to effectively implement these reforms, a significant investment is also needed to establish their supplementary infrastructure, including women shelters and women’s police stations. Revolutionising societal mindsets to honour all members of the community is an essential prerequisite if the government actually aspires to buttress pro-women legislations. The weight of societal prejudices that continue to deny women the right to be educated, the right to choose a career, and the right to lead their lives in the manner they like should be replaced with progressive and embracing principles. Both the government and the society immediately need to relinquish their regressive ideals to set forth a Pakistan that develops alongside its women. *