By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: Sukkur hosted an awareness seminar on the Protection of Women Against Harassment at the Workplace Act, IV of 2010, aimed at educating women about their legal rights and fostering harassment-free workplaces.
The event was held at a local health institution’s auditorium and attended by officers, students, and employees from various government departments. Retired District & Sessions Judge and consultant Muhammad Iqbal Arain served as the chief guest. In his address, he emphasized that safeguarding women against workplace harassment is both a legal obligation and a social responsibility.
Former judge highlighted the need for effective implementation of the law and active functioning of anti-harassment committees in all public and private institutions to ensure timely, fair, and transparent resolution of complaints. He urged them to be fully aware of their rights, report incidents immediately in writing, and approach the Office of the Provincial Ombudsman for Protection of Women Against Harassment.
Speaking directly to women, Arain encouraged unity, confidence, and the full use of legal protections, while advising both men and women to respect professional boundaries and uphold dignity in the workplace. Other speakers reinforced the importance of awareness, noting that true empowerment comes from knowledge of the law. They stressed that both women and men should understand the legislation to promote mutual respect, equality, and professional ethics.
The seminar concluded with a question-and-answer session, in which participants expressed strong interest and called for the continuation of such initiatives. Organizers expressed hope that the session would contribute to creating safe, dignified, and harassment-free work environments and reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing awareness activities for the protection of women.
