Islamabad: The Committee on Gender Mainstreaming of Pakistan’s National Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding workplace harassment protections, voicing support for the government’s legal review petition aimed at preserving the law’s intent. In a meeting chaired by Dr. Nafisa Shah, the Committee examined a recent Federal Constitutional Court judgment and highlighted the need to uphold legislative measures against harassment.

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the Committee’s discussions focused on the implications of the recent court ruling in Usman Shahid v. Nadia Sarwar, which raised concerns about the narrowing of harassment definitions. The Attorney General, Mansoor Usman Awan, briefed the Committee on the legal grounds for the government’s review petition, pointing out omissions in the court’s understanding of legislative changes. FOSPAH Chairperson Fauzia Viqar emphasized the need to maintain comprehensive definitions of harassment, warning against interpretations that could undermine the law’s protective scope.

The Committee also reviewed the performance of the Federal Ombudsperson Secretariat for Protection against Harassment (FOSPAH), noting its 98% case resolution rate since 2010. It praised the Secretariat’s efficiency but called for improved safeguards to protect complainants from retaliation. Additionally, the Committee assessed gender-disaggregated implementation under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), acknowledging progress in female participation but recommending further initiatives to empower women in economic activities.

The Committee urged the government to vigorously pursue the review petition to defend legislative intent and recommended setting a minimum benchmark for female participation in youth and agricultural loans. It also highlighted the need for multilingual awareness campaigns and the establishment of a Federal Adolescent and Youth Development Agency to further institutionalize the PMYP.

Furthermore, a sub-committee was appointed to review and suggest amendments to family and inheritance laws in Islamabad, addressing issues such as dowry restrictions and family court regulations.

The meeting was attended by several members of the National Assembly and Senate, as well as officials from relevant departments, underscoring the continued legislative focus on gender mainstreaming and workplace protections in Pakistan.