ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Wednesday restricted Islamic banks from requiring Abaya attire for their female staff and called for adherence to a modest national dress code for all, irrespective of gender.
A meeting of the panel, presided over by Saleem H. Mandviwalla, addressed complaints regarding dress code instructions at certain banks, particularly those running Islamic operations.
Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur informed the committee that female employees were allegedly being compelled to wear Abayas. She said there was no such compulsion for male staff, who were free to wear whatever they chose, but women were forced to wear Abayas.
Sherry Rehman argued that no employee should be forced to adopt any specific attire. She said any dress a female prime minister could wear was also suitable for other women, adding that the state had defined national dress for both genders.
SBP asked to circulate updated guidelines
State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad said the panel had also issued similar guidelines which had already been conveyed to all banks. The committee reiterated that it had only directed observance of a modest dress code and had never mandated any specific attire.
It directed all banks to submit their Human Resource dress code policies and instructed SBP to circulate updated guidelines to ensure that no employee is subjected to unnecessary compulsion.
Mr Mandviwalla took exception to the non-implementation of the committee’s instructions on payment of the budget honourarium to Senate staff. The committee was told that the matter was sub judice.
Mr Mandviwalla said the parliament had passed a law and no court had the jurisdiction to interfere in such matters. “Have we ever interfered in judicial matters? Have we ever asked why they are taking so much salaries? How can they interfere in our domain?” he questioned and emphasised that he wanted payment of salaries to Senate employees.
He asked the Ministry of Finance to return to the Supreme Court and present the law. He said the matter be resolved within seven days, or else a notice of privilege motion would be issued.
The committee reviwed complaints about difficulties customers, particularly Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), face when dealing with commercial banks. MNA Muhammad Moin Amir Pirzada informed the committee that, despite earlier directions to designate dedicated officers at banks and the SBP, no uniform standard operating procedures had been developed.
He said his bank account had been closed in April and despite repeated correspondence with the bank concerned and SBP, no response had been received. He emphasised the need for a standardised annual data updating mechanism to prevent such incidents.
Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2026