Night girls have been a part of the Lahore society for centuries. Originating in what was then Mughal India, they were used as courtesans and entertainers to please the ruling class, and over time their roles evolved into that of female prostitutes catering to both locals and foreigners. Night girls are typically women from low-income backgrounds who engage in sex work on streets or brothels at night, often facing discrimination from society due to their occupation. They make very little money for their services, living in abject poverty with no social protection or safety nets provided by the state. The plight of night girls is compounded further by criminalization of prostitution which leaves them vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and violence without legal recourse.
