QUETTA: Women Development Department Secretary Syed Sikander Shah has said the increasing incidents of harassment and violent behaviour against women in society are a cause of concern and the government is tightening anti-harassment measures at work and other places across the province to stop such cases.

“Such social crimes could be prevented only by taking stern action against the accused involved in harassment and bringing them to justice,” the secretary said while speaking at the concluding session of the two-day workshop on Balochistan Protection Act, 2016, against harassment of women at workplace.

The workshop was organised by Aurat Foundation with the support of UNDP here on Sunday.

The work and other places must be freed from harassment, Provincial Ombudsman Secretary Qahir Khan said, adding that as a result of effective action against such incidents, harassment cases were gradually being reported from various departments and women were becoming aware of their rights.

“Harassment is a punishable crime and it cannot be protected under the cloak of tradition. Sisters, mothers and daughters are now coming forward to achieve justice by defying societal attitudes, Fauzia Shaheen, chairperson of the Commission on Status of Women in Balochistan, said.

She stressed the need for creating more awareness among society to prevent harassment of women at work and other places in the province.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2022