The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has asked the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to clarify workplace dress-code policies after lawmakers raised concerns over reports that Islamic banks had made abayas mandatory for female employees.
During a meeting on Wednesday, Senator Zarqa Suharwardy said women should be allowed to wear Pakistan’s national dress, shalwar kameez with a dupatta, rather than being required to wear an abaya.
Senator Sherry Rehman also questioned whether financial institutions should be allowed to impose specific religious clothing requirements on their female employees. She called on the central bank to issue clear guidelines for banks.
The committee’s discussion comes amid broader questions over workplace policies and the rights of female employees in Pakistan’s banking sector.
Bank accounts frozen
The committee also discussed complaints about bank accounts being frozen, including accounts belonging to parliamentarians.
Members expressed concern over delays in resolving such cases.
SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad told the committee that the central bank would appoint two dedicated officers to deal with banking-related complaints from members of the National Assembly and Senate.
Electricity taxes
Lawmakers also examined taxes collected through electricity bills, following concerns that consumers were facing an increasing financial burden.
Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial told the committee that the sales tax rate on electricity had not been increased over the past two years.
FBR officials said Rs476bn had been collected through electricity bills, including Rs270bn in sales tax and Rs154bn in income tax.
They clarified that domestic electricity consumers do not pay income tax through their electricity bills.
Reko Diq project
The committee also considered proposed legal amendments relating to the Reko Diq mining project.
Some senators questioned why certain incentives were being offered specifically to the project rather than being made available to other investors as well.
Separately, senators directed officials to resolve pending compensation claims and other outstanding dues of Senate employees within seven days.
The SBP’s response to the concerns over workplace dress codes is expected to clarify whether banks can require female employees to follow specific religious clothing requirements.
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