State Bank Fined Rs 500,000 for Denying Paternity Leave: Landmark Ruling

Islamabad: In a landmark decision, the Federal Ombudsman for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) has imposed a fine of Rs 500,000 on the State Bank of Pakistan for denying a bank officer 30 days of paternity leave following the birth of his child.
Federal Ombudsman Fauzia Waqar ordered that Rs 400,000 of the penalty amount be paid to the complainant, officer Syed Basit Ali. Additionally, the bank has been directed to grant him 30 days of paternity leave with full salary.
The State Bank had rejected Basit Ali’s leave application, citing the absence of a relevant policy, prompting him to file a complaint with FOSPAH.
Gender Discrimination Ruling
The ombudsman’s ruling explicitly states that denial of paternity leave constitutes gender-based harassment. “Granting maternity leave while denying paternity leave amounts to gender discrimination,” the decision read.
“Childcare is not solely a woman’s responsibility but a shared parental obligation. Denying leave undermines this joint responsibility and harms the child’s best interests,” Fauzia Waqar stated in her judgment.
Policy Implementation Ordered
The State Bank of Pakistan has been directed to formulate a comprehensive policy under the Maternity and Paternity Leave Act 2023 to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This ruling is being hailed as a significant milestone for parental rights and gender equality in Pakistan’s workplace environment, setting a precedent for both public and private sector organizations across the country.
The decision reinforces the principle that parental responsibilities should be equally shared between mothers and fathers, challenging traditional gender roles in childcare and workplace policies.