The Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment has ruled that fathers have the right to take paternity leave when their child is born. The decision makes it clear that taking care of a child is not only the mother’s duty but a shared responsibility of both parents.
The case started when a bank officer named Syed Basit Ali filed a complaint. He worked at the State Bank of Pakistan Banking Services Corporation and had asked for 30 days of paternity leave after his son was born. His request was turned down because the bank said there was no such leave in their current policy. He applied for leave under the Maternity and Paternity Leave Act of 2023, but the bank refused to accept it.
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Federal Ombudsperson Fauzia Waqar heard the case and gave a strong decision. She said that refusing to give paternity leave to a father is a form of gender-based harassment and discrimination. This goes against the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act of 2010. She also made it clear that a bank’s internal policy cannot override the rights given by law to employees.
The ruling pointed out that giving maternity leave to women but denying paternity leave to men supports old and unfair ideas about gender roles. It said that caring for a child is not only a woman’s job. When fathers are not allowed to take leave, it harms the idea of shared parenting, affects the mother’s health, and is not good for the child’s well-being.
FOSPAH also imposed a fine of Rs500,000 on the State Bank of Pakistan. Out of this amount, Rs400,000 will be given to the bank officer who filed the complaint as compensation. The remaining Rs100,000 will go to the government.
The ombudsperson ordered the bank to give Syed Basit Ali 30 days of paternity leave with full pay. The bank has also been told to change its leave policy so that it follows the Maternity and Paternity Leave Act of 2023 completely.
This ruling sends an important message to all institutions. Gender equality at work is not something that can be ignored. Government bodies and other organizations must follow the laws that protect workers’ rights. If they treat employees unfairly, they will face legal consequences. This decision is a big step forward for fathers’ rights in Pakistan and supports the idea that both parents should share the responsibility of raising a child.
