The Senate approved on 20th January 2010 a bill providing protection to women against sexual harassment at workplaces and rejected an amendment introduced by members belonging to religious parties.

The bill amends both the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), proposing an increase in punishment for the crime to a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of up to Rs500,000 from up to one year jail and an unspecified fine provided in the PPC for a vague “insult (to) the modesty of a woman”.

It was approved by the National Assembly on Nov 4 last year without any debate.

The bill will now be sent to the President for his assent before becoming the first comprehensive law for protection of women working in agriculture, industry and marketplace.

The government termed the criticism time barred, saying the members had failed to introduce their amendment in the house committee at the time of its approval.

Both houses of parliament had passed a private bill in August last year to provide for monetary and other relief to victims of domestic violence, including women, children and other vulnerable people such as the elderly and domestic servants.

“Harassment is one of the most common issues faced by the women of Pakistan,” a statement of objects and reasons accompanying the bill said. “They face intimidation in the marketplace, in buses, at bus stops and at workplace".

The Senate approved on 20th January 2010 a bill providing protection to women against sexual harassment at workplaces and rejected an amendment introduced by members belonging to religious parties.

The bill amends both the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), proposing an increase in punishment for the crime to a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of up to Rs500,000 from up to one year jail and an unspecified fine provided in the PPC for a vague “insult (to) the modesty of a woman”.

It was approved by the National Assembly on Nov 4 last year without any debate.

The bill will now be sent to the President for his assent before becoming the first comprehensive law for protection of women working in agriculture, industry and marketplace.

The government termed the criticism time barred, saying the members had failed to introduce their amendment in the house committee at the time of its approval.

Both houses of parliament had passed a private bill in August last year to provide for monetary and other relief to victims of domestic violence, including women, children and other vulnerable people such as the elderly and domestic servants.

“Harassment is one of the most common issues faced by the women of Pakistan,” a statement of objects and reasons accompanying the bill said. “They face intimidation in the marketplace, in buses, at bus stops and at workplace".