The seminar was graced by a keynote speech from our Honourable Ombudsperson, Ms. Fauzia Viqar, who emphasized the importance of gender equality by quoting Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah: "No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you."

In her address, Ms. Fauzia elaborated on the establishment of FOSPAH, explaining that it was created to protect women—who constitute half of Pakistan’s population—under a special law designed to address workplace harassment.

Following the keynote was a comprehensive presentation prepared by the Legal Team of Karachi’s Regional Office, where Ms. Aasia Anas, Assistant Registrar, provided a detailed overview of the basics of FOSPAH, including workplace harassment statistics, the legal definition of harassment, and the fact that harassment can be perpetrated or experienced by individuals of any gender.

The seminar also featured an informative outline by Mr. Aliyan Shaikh, Assistant Law Officer, who explained the process for filing complaints before FOSPAH, discussed the 2022 amendments to the Act, including the incorporation of gender based discrimination within the ambit of harassment and lastly, explained the fundamentals of an Inquiry Committee.

The event concluded with a Q&A session led by Ms. Fauzia Viqar and Sindh’s Regional Head, Ms. Sabika Shah, allowing attendees to explore various aspects of our work and seek clarification on specific queries.