LARKANA: The Regional Office of the Provincial Ombudsman Sindh in Larkana organized an awareness seminar on “Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace” at the Shaaf Institute of Medical and Modern Sciences (SIMMS) on Thursday.
Consultant to the Provincial Ombudsman Sindh and retired District and Sessions Judge Syed Shakeel Haider addressed the seminar and highlighted the importance of ensuring a safe and respectful working environment for women. He said that harassment of women at the workplace is not only a moral wrong but also a serious legal offence.
He informed the participants that under the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010, women are provided full legal protection and the Office of the Provincial Ombudsman ensures prompt hearings of complaints and justice in accordance with the law.
Syed Shakeel Haider said that the law also addresses both mental and physical harassment, and offenders can be punished accordingly. He stressed that society must stand against harassment and ensure that no injustice is allowed to occur.
He further emphasized the important role of institutional leadership in preventing harassment, stating that officers and administrators have a responsibility to maintain a safe environment in their organizations.
Addressing women participants, he encouraged them to remain confident and speak up against injustice. He said that awareness of legal rights is essential and breaking the silence is equally important.
He also noted that every institution is required to establish an inquiry committee to address harassment complaints and ensure workplace safety. Women facing harassment, he added, can approach the Office of the Provincial Ombudsman without fear or pressure to seek free and prompt justice.
