Pakistani human rights activists hold candles as they shout slogans during a rally in Lahore on March 7, 2011 on the eve of International Women's Day. Pakistan is a conservative Muslim country, where the United Nations says only 40 percent of adult women are literate. Women are victims of violence and abuse, and the country still lacks a law against domestic violence. AFP Photo

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government is taking swift measures for implementing the legislation to protect women against harassment at workplaces while Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) are yet to adopt the code of conduct.

Talking to APP, Chairperson, National Implementation Watch Committee (NIWC), Dr Fauzia Saeed said that the committee is working to reach out to women's rights organisations in Balochistan, KP and GB and involve them in harassment act implementation process.

However, the provincial government of Punjab took lead for implementing the act in all public departments and has notified to adopt zero tolerance against sexual harassment code of conduct and form inquiry committees.

A number of attached departments of education, health and all other public sector organizations have adopted the code of conduct, she said.

The reminders are being sent to those departments and organisations that have not adopted the code of conduct or formed committees yet.

NIWC will hold meeting with the provincial chief ministers soon for appointing ombudsperson at provincial level, Fauzia said.

About harassment act implementation in Sindh, she said, "The code of conduct has been translated into Sindhi language and has been forwarded to all the provincial ministries. However, the current leadership of the province will have to be proactive for implementation of the law, ensuring a conducive work environment for women."

Giving details about implementation of law in other sectors, Fauzia said over 26 banks, with 150 branches each, have adopted the code of conduct in response of the notification issued by State Bank of Pakistan so far.

"We are getting good response from the telecom sector as Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) notified all the attached bodies to adopt the code and form inquiry committees at their workplaces."

Showing concern over the slower adoption of code in media, Fauzia said Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has been asked to notify media organisations to comply with the law but only a few channels have taken the lead to adopt the code and constitute inquiry committees.

Some private channels including Dawn and Pakistan Television Network have implemented the law while print media organisations are lagging behind in this process, she said.