t around 4 pm, two Dolphin Force cops, namely Nazia and Kainat, arrive at Liberty Market, riding bicycles. They have their male colleagues, Khadim and Ali, in tow.

Uniformly dressed and sporting a protective gear, the four officials peddle their way through the market. Their presence does not go unnoticed. Shoppers as well as the shopkeepers look on curiously; a group of women give them nods of approval. The media, mostly TV crews, have had a field day covering the cops.

It’s obvious that they are there to watch over the marketplaces which can become unsafe for women, especially on weekends and during festive seasons like Eid-ul Fitr, as all sorts of people crowd them, including catcallers and pickpockets.

Yumna Khawaja, a student of Punjab University, and a boarder, says that prior to leaving for her hometown in Toba Tek Singh for Eid holidays, she planned to go shopping. She wished to shop for her younger siblings and friends back home. She says that she made sure she had a female friend or two for company.

“For a girl, going to a crowded market by herself is akin to inviting trouble,” she says. “Even middle-aged women prefer to have a male escort or show up in groups. It makes them feel secure.”

For Durre Akram, a journalist and a mother of two, the sight of female police officials at Dopatta Galli was very reassuring. “It was such a relief,” she says. “Not because I don’t trust male officers to protect us, but because women cops can better relate with our struggle.

“Walking through the crowded bazaar ahead of Eid, as I tried to balance shopping bags in one hand, while adjusting my dopatta with the other, constantly dreading someone might brush against me, is something I wouldn’t want to experience again.”

Akram says that the presence of women cops “sends [them] a message that we belong in the public spaces too.”

Not everyone has the same viewpoint. TNS reached out to Aurat March for a comment, and this is what they had to say: “While the Punjab government’s initiative… might be well-intentioned, we want to emphasize that women’s safety in public spaces cannot be addressed through temporary policing measures, especially those tied to specific times like Eid.

“Harassment and gender-based violence are everyday realities. True safety requires systemic changes that make all public spaces secure year-round. This approach also raises concerns about inclusivity — will it ensure safety for trans- and gender-diverse people who face daily harassment and discrimination, including from law enforcement itself? Public safety must go beyond policing to address structural and cultural issues and create spaces that are safe and accessible for all.”

So far, the Punjab government has installed ‘friendly’ patrolling units at six major bazaars in Lahore, including Ichhra Bazaar, Anarkali, MM Alam Road, Liberty Market and DHA Raya. Each patrolling unit comprises four Dolphin Force personnel — two women and two men — riding sport bicycles. They are equipped with handcuffs, Beretta pistols, telescopic batons, torches, Android phones, whistles and wireless communication sets.

Dolphin Force’s SP Shahmir Khalid says, “During shopping hours, the units ensure women’s safety.” They remain active even after iftar.

According to Khalid, the idea is to minimise risk, particularly during shopping seasons and at peak hours. “We want a secure environment for women and children at marketplaces. Our officials are well trained. We hope to continue these efforts in the future,” he adds.

Operations DIG Faisal Kamran speaks of another programme, titled Safe Ramazan - Safe Eid, introduced by the city police earlier. As part of it, over 4,000 personnel have been deployed at 65 major shopping centres in the city. Besides, plainclothes officers are tasked to patrol the areas. Checkpoints have been set up at 226 locations near markets and banks to prevent street crime. Drone cameras and night vision binoculars are being used for surveillance.

Additionally, over 1,000 personnel are deployed for crowd control, with checkpoints established to prevent reckless driving and one-wheeling.

At Liberty Market, DF cop Nazia says, “Our presence makes the troublemakers think twice.”

A tall woman with sharp eyes and a confident posture, she adds, “If anyone harasses a woman, she reports to us.”

This is her third day at Liberty. She says that the cops stick around from 4 in the afternoon until the shops are closed.

When asked whether catcallers still hover around in groups, Kainat says, “Frankly, we haven’t come across any so far. So, I can’t say. Perhaps, our presence has discouraged them.”

Have they ever faced harassment in the line of duty? Nazia replies, “My uniform affords me a sense of safety; my confidence acts like a shield. That said, I’ve never faced harassment in the streets.”

As the women cops comb the market, onlookers are spotted asking why they aren’t riding motorbikes instead. After all, the Dolphin personnel typically move around on high-end motorbikes. “There isn’t enough space at the market for motorbikes,” Kainat says. “Bicycles make patrolling easier.”

They move in a group of four. They have divided the tasks among themselves. “Our male colleagues handle the boys causing trouble, while we take care of the women and try to put them at ease,” Kainat says.

The cops also have to deal with complaints about missing children and mobile snatching.

Fakhra Ahsan is interested in urban planning and transport issues