Mr Khan approved the law yesterday which would also fast track sexual assault cases. While no official announcement has yet been made by the Pakistan government, the decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting.
During the meeting, Mr Khan said: “We need to ensure a safe environment for our citizens.”
The draft legislation will also increase women’s role in policing while improving witness protection.
Mr Khan added rape survivors will be able to register complaints without any fear and their identities will be protected by the government, under the new legislation.
Information Minister Shibli Faraz said: “The federal cabinet has approved anti-rape ordinances which change the basic definition of rape and suggest severe punishment for gang-rape and hanging of rapists.”
Faisal Javed Khan, a member of the Senate of Pakistan, added: “Strict punishments against wild beasts abusing children and women, special policing, fast track cases, protection of witnesses and victims, data bank of rapists, quick and expeditious investigations and other points have been drafted.
“Will be implemented soon to be approved by Parliament.”
Back in September, the Senator tweeted there would be “harshest punishments” for “savage beasts” and will lead to castration.
He tweeted: “Rising incidences of child and female abuse.
READ MORE: Christian girl, 14, hunted by death squads in Pakistan begs Boris
The ‘two-finger’ test has been widely discredited by the World Health Organisation as a method to determine whether someone has been raped.
Human rights groups have also said the test is a gross violation of a woman’s right to dignity and privacy.
This new legislation marks the first time in Pakistan history the definition of rape has been changed to include transgender and gang-rape in it.
Nearly 1,000 women are killed each year in Pakistan in so-called ‘honour killings’ for allegedly violating conservative norms on love and marriage.
The country has also seen an increase in rapes since 2018 after a serial killer raped and murdered seven-year-old Zainab Ansari in the city of Kasur.
Following nationwide protests, Mohammad Imran was sentenced to death and hanged in the case.
In September, a woman was pulled out of her car which had broken down on a deserted highway.
The two attackers gang-raped her as her terrified children watched. The men were later arrested.
Currently convicted rapists face a sentence of between 10 to 25 years in prison or the death penalty across Pakistan.
For gang-rape, the punishment is either the death penalty or life imprisonment.
However, while sexual and gender-based violence against women is commonplace in the country, many women fear they will be shamed or persecuted by police if they come forward.