Dera ghazi khan: Punjab Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Dr Najma Afzal Khan has said that providing women with a safe, dignified and conducive working environment is among the priorities of the Punjab government.
She said every member of society must play a role in eliminating the menace of harassment, while standing by truth and justice was a collective responsibility.
She was addressing a training workshop for members of anti-harassment committees constituted by the Punjab government and relevant officers at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office during her visit to Dera Ghazi Khan. She also chaired the workshop.
Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid, Member of National Assembly Shehnaz Saleem, former Member of Provincial Assembly Najma Arshad, Additional Deputy Commissioner Headquarters Ahmed Raza Butt, Additional Deputy Commissioner Municipal Services Muhammad Asad Chandia, male and female officers, office-bearers of the Bar Association, lawyers and other participants attended the workshop.
Dr Najma Afzal Khan said the basic objective of the training workshop was to further activate anti-harassment committees established in different institutions, enhance the capacity of inquiry committee members, familiarize them with the code of conduct and make the mechanism for redressal of complaints more effective.
She clarified that women could submit their complaints even on plain paper, after which the relevant committee would be empowered to conduct transparent proceedings and hearings and decide the matter in accordance with the law.
The Punjab Ombudsperson said providing women with a safe, dignified and conducive environment at the workplace was the fundamental responsibility of every institution. Harassment was not merely a problem in Pakistan but a global issue, requiring an effective institutional mechanism, comprehensive awareness and timely justice.
She said anti-harassment committees were aimed at ensuring transparent redressal of complaints and providing justice to affected women.
Dr Najma said that on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, 10 more offices were being established at the district level to provide women with a sense of justice and protection at their doorstep. She said, in addition to the provincial headquarters, offices of the Punjab Ombudsperson were currently functioning at nine divisional headquarters, while the process for establishing 10 more offices at the district level was underway.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid said the district administration would play its full role in providing a safe and peaceful environment to all citizens, including women, and would ensure effective coordination among the relevant institutions for the purpose.