Islamabad: Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) Fouzia Waqar has made it compulsory to grant paternity leave for 30 days to father in the matter of birth of child.

She gave this decision in the matter of not granting paternity leave to father.

She imposed fine of Rs 5 lac on State bank for not granting paternity leave to Bank officer Syed Basit Ali.

According to Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) order bank should give Rs 4 lac out of penalty amount of 5 lac to complainant officer Syed Basit Ali . State bank should deposit Rs one lac in national exchequer.

FOSPAH ordered to grant paternity leave of 30 days to complainant officer with different salary.

FOSPAH directed state bank to form policy under maternity and paternity act -2023.

Department gave decision that denial to paternity leave is tantamount to harassment on gender basis.

According to FOSPAH upbringing the children is not only the responsibility of women. Denial to paternity leave is tantamount to cause damage to joint responsibility of parents and supreme interest of child.

One officer of State Bank Banking Services Corporation had resorted to FOSPAH against not granting paternity leave to him.

The bank had rejected Syed Basit Ali leave application saying the respective policy is not in place.