The design and methods of this national household survey produced a reliable estimate of the overall rate of violence and other forms of abuse experienced by women in Pakistan. In addition, an examination was able to be undertaken of the factors that increased or decreased the risk of abuse in the overall population of women forming the basis for constructive discussions about the findings that followed. The study took place between 2001 and 2004 and comprised a design phase, reviewing previous work in Pakistan and elsewhere, and consulting a large-scale, nationally representative household survey. The survey took account of methodological and ethical recommendations, ensuring privacy of interviews through one person interviewing the mother-in-law while another interviewed the eligible woman privately. The training module for interviewers focused on empathy with respondents, notably increasing disclosure rates. Surveys of violence against women in Pakistan not using methods to minimize underreporting could seriously underestimate prevalence. Table and references