Federal Ombudsperson Fauzia Viqar emphasizes need for widespread awareness about Workplace Harassment Act 2010
LAHORE: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-June 17th, 2025) A seminar on the Workplace Harassment Act 2010 was organized at a local hotel in Lahore by the National Women Journalists Forum in collaboration with WISE on Tuesday.
National Women Journalists Forum President Farzana Chaudhry presided over the event.
Federal Ombudsperson for Anti-Harassment Fauzia Viqar, Punjab Provincial Ombudsperson Nabila Hakim Ali Khan, President of Lahore Press Club Arshad Ansari, Executive Director of WISE Bushra Khaliq, and Chief of Leader Media Group Ali Ahmad Dhillon graced the occasion. Renowned industrialists Maimoona Salman and Wajiha Salman also attended the event.
The event was hosted by Nasreen Butt, and it began with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Saba Sheikh followed by a Naat (praise of the Prophet) by Iman Fatima.
In her welcome address, Farzana Chaudhry shared the objectives of the National Women Journalists Forum and urged the Punjab Government to provide travel facilities to female journalists.
Federal Ombudsperson Fauzia Viqar emphasized the need for widespread awareness about the Workplace Harassment Act 2010. She said the law is not only for women but also for men and the often-ignored transgender community. "The biggest issue in our society is gender inequality," she noted.
Nabila Hakim Ali Khan stated that her office is continuously working to deliver justice at women’s doorsteps. “Due to our efforts, even women from remote areas are now filing complaints about harassment—this is a major achievement,” she said, adding that authorities should support the growth and welfare of women journalists by providing them with scooters for transport ease.
Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari said, “This 2010 Act is a landmark but the real tragedy is that many women, under social pressure, withdraw their complaints even after filing them,”.
Ali Ahmad Dhillon stressed that laws against harassment must be implemented in letter and spirit.
Bushra Khaliq, Executive Director of WISE, said her NGO has been working for women's rights for the past 15 years, focusing on combating physical violence, protecting working women, and empowering them.
The seminar was attended by a large number of working journalists. Senior female journalists including Sadia Salahuddin, Farah Hashmi, Rafiya Naheed Ikram, Saima Nawaz, Mubashra Sultan, Zubaida Anwar and Sadia Maqsood shared their insights.
Among the Najaf members present were Durkhashanda Alamdar, Rabia Azmat, Kanwal Naseem, Nabeela Akbar, Iqra Mughal, Zahida Parveen, Raheela Mughal, Iqra Farooq, and others.
The event concluded with the presentation of shields to the distinguished guests.
General Secretary of the National Women Journalists Forum, Durkhashanda Alamdar, expressed gratitude for their presence.
