The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has asked the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to issue clear guidance on workplace dress codes after lawmakers raised concerns over reports that an Islamic bank requires its female employees to wear abayas.
During the committee meeting, Senator Zarqa Suharwardy argued that female employees should be free to wear Pakistan’s traditional attire of shalwar kameez with a dupatta instead of being required to wear an abaya.
Senator Sherry Rehman also questioned the reported policy, saying no bank should be able to impose a specific form of dress, including abayas or headscarves, on its employees. She urged the central bank to establish uniform guidelines for workplace dress codes across the banking sector.
The committee also discussed complaints about the freezing of bank accounts, including those belonging to parliamentarians. Members criticized the existing complaint mechanism, while SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad informed the committee that two dedicated officers would be assigned to address issues faced by members of Parliament.
Lawmakers also debated taxes collected through electricity bills after concerns were raised about the burden on consumers. FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial said sales tax on electricity had not increased over the past two years. FBR officials told the committee that Rs. 476 billion had been collected through electricity bills, including Rs. 270 billion in sales tax and Rs. 154 billion in income tax, adding that domestic consumers are not subject to income tax through their electricity bills.
Separately, the committee reviewed proposed amendments related to the Reko Diq mining project, with some senators questioning why certain legal incentives were being designed specifically for the project instead of applying more broadly to other investments.
The committee also directed authorities to clear pending compensation and other dues of Senate employees within seven days, warning that failure to comply could result in the matter being referred to the Senate’s Privileges Committee.
