The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has directed Islamic banks not to force female employees to wear abayas at work.
The committee said that no employee should be made to wear any specific type of clothing. It added that all staff should follow a modest national dress code that applies equally to men and women.
Dress code rules at Pakistani banks
The decision came during a committee meeting chaired by Saleem H. Mandviwalla. The meeting discussed complaints about dress code rules at some banks. Especially those that are offering Islamic banking services.
Senator Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur told the committee that some female employees were being asked to wear abayas while male employees were not required to follow similar rules.
Senator Sherry Rehman said that no worker should be forced to wear a certain outfit. She said the national dress code already provides a suitable standard for both men and women.
State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmed told the committee that similar guidelines had already been shared with banks last year.
The committee repeated that it only supports a modest dress code and has never ordered any specific clothing.
It asked all banks to submit their dress code policies. It also directed the State Bank to issue updated guidelines so that no employee is forced to wear a particular dress.
Delay in special budget honorarium
During the meeting, Senator Mandviwalla also raised concerns over the delay in paying a special budget honorarium to Senate employees. Officials told the committee that the matter is currently before the court.
Mandviwalla said Parliament had already passed a law on the issue and asked the Finance Ministry to take the matter back to the Supreme Court.
The committee also discussed the delay in issuing revised salary slips to some Senate Secretariat employees.
It directed the concerned authorities to solve the issue within seven days. It warned that failure to do so could lead to the matter being sent to the Senate Privileges Committee.
