Malpractice in Mental Health in Pakistan: A Call for Regulation NCHR received a call informing the Commission that the caller’s friend and roommate had been forcefully locked in a rehabilitation centre and psychiatric clinic in the outskirts of Islamabad for nine days. NCHR took immediate action, and with police and officials from the health department in tow, rescued the victim, a 35-year-old woman with an MPhil who serves as a senior level employee at a Multinational Company. NCHR’s redressal of this complaint lead to a larger investigation of the mental health and human rights situation in the country which culminated in this report in collaboration with Taskeen Health Initiative (Taskeen). The report identifies the gaps in mental health policy, legislation, licensing, qualification, and ethical mental health service delivery in order to highlight the human rights violations and malpractice that those with mental health issues face as a consequence. The report also details NCHR's evidence-based policy recommendations across five major themes, including raising public awareness; legislative actions; mental health licensing bodies; mental health regulatory authorities; and other recommendations. These recommendations have been developed in consultation with experts in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, health policy, and public health. They are centred around end-user concerns and experiences in order to ensure the highest quality of care for vulnerable people. This report was reviewed and validated by stakeholders in the mental health field and those with lived mental health experience. Launch of Report: NCHR, in collaboration with Taskeen and with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), launched this report in August 2022. Speakers at the report launch event included: Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Chairperson NCHR Ms. Rabiya Javeri Agha; Chairperson Standing Committee on Human Rights, Senator Walid Iqbal; Taskeen CEO Mr. Irfan Mustafa; Taskeen COO, Dr. Taha Sabri; UNFPA Representative, a.i. Dr. Bakhtior Kadirov; MNA, Ms. Shaista Pervaiz. 22