FOSPAH Mandates Paternity Leave for Fathers in Pakistan

Fauzia Viqar, Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment in Pakistan, has issued a landmark decision requiring state institutions to grant paternity leave to fathers upon the birth of a child. This mandate came after a banking officer’s complaint against the State Bank of Pakistan.

Syed Basit Ali, a banking official, sought 30 days of paternity leave for the birth of his daughter but was denied by the State Bank of Pakistan. In response, Viqar not only fined the bank Rs5 million but also ordered it to pay compensation of Rs4 million directly to Ali and deposit the remaining amount into the national treasury.

The decision awarded Basit Ali 30 days of paternity leave with full pay, while the State Bank was directed to implement a formal maternity and paternity leave policy in line with Pakistan’s Maternity and Paternity Leave Act of 2023. Fauzia Viqar emphasized that denying paternity leave is discriminatory and gender-based harassment.

Speaking about her decision, Viqar stated, “Childcare responsibilities are not exclusively women’s work. The denial of paternity leave undermines the shared parental roles and ensures the best interests of children.”

This ruling represents a significant advancement in Pakistan’s efforts to enforce parental rights across public and private sectors, specifically highlighting that fathers should enjoy equivalent leave benefits to mothers.

The complaint had originally stemmed from the State Bank of Pakistan’s rejection of Basit Ali’s request for paternity leave due to the absence of such an official policy.