Private bank, nine individuals fined Rs 10m over discriminatory treatment

Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Prevention of Harassment rules in favour of senior female employee forced to resign.

ISLAMABAD:

The Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for the Prevention of Harassment (FOSPAH) has imposed a fine of Rs. 10 million on a private bank and nine individuals in a case of discriminatory treatment.

According to a FOSPAH statement, FOSPAH ruled in favour of a senior female employee who was forced to resign from the bank due to harassment.

The woman had reportedly faced gender-based discrimination over several years and was denied promotion opportunities.

A fiine of Rs. 5 million was imposed on nine individuals involved, with 50% of the amount to be paid directly to the complainant, while the other 50% is to be deposited into the national treasury.

Additionally, the bank was ordered to pay Rs5 million as compensation to the woman.

The complainant provided documented evidence highlighting gender-based discrimnatory treatment.

The Federal Ombudsman noted a significant lack of adherence to the principles of equal protection and fair opportunities at the bank, declaring the actions unlawful.

Previously, the government shortened the response time for banks to address customer complaints by 15 days, now binding financial institutions to reply to aggrieved clients within 30 days.

According to a media statement, Pakistan's Banking Ombudsman announced, "Banks are now mandated to respond to complainants' grievances within 30 days instead of the previous 45 days as prescribed under the Banking Companies Ordinance (BCO) 1962."

If complainants are dissatisfied with the bank's response, they may approach the Banking Mohtasib (Ombudsman) Pakistan for further redressal within an additional 30 days.