forced abayas senate
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No forced abayas, Senate panel tells banks

ByJustpaste.in

A Senate committee has directed Islamic banks not to force female employees to wear abayas and instructed all banks to adopt a modest dress policy without making any specific attire compulsory.

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, discussed complaints regarding dress code policies at banks, particularly those offering Islamic banking services.

During the meeting, Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur said some female employees had complained that they were being required to wear abayas while male staff were not subject to similar restrictions.

Senator Sherry Rehman said no employee should be compelled to wear a particular dress. She said Pakistan already has a recognised national dress and a modest dress code should apply equally to everyone, regardless of gender.

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad informed the committee that similar guidelines had been issued previously and communicated to all banks.

The committee clarified that it supported a decent and professional dress code but opposed making any specific clothing mandatory. It directed all banks to submit their dress code policies and instructed the SBP to issue fresh guidelines to ensure employees are not subjected to unnecessary restrictions.

The committee also reviewed complaints about charges imposed on ATM withdrawals, Visa card transactions and SMS banking alerts.

Members expressed concern over customers being charged for SMS alerts even when they did not request the service. Senator Abdul Qadir claimed that banks were collecting significant amounts through SMS charges.

The SBP governor explained that SMS charges were collected by telecom operators rather than banks. However, committee members questioned the level of charges imposed on customers.

The panel directed that SMS notifications should only be provided to customers who choose to receive them and unnecessary alerts should be discontinued.

The committee also sought details about dollar-denominated charges on ATM and Visa card transactions and asked the relevant authorities to review the matter.

Separately, lawmakers discussed taxes collected through electricity bills. Some members argued that electricity consumers were paying a heavy tax burden, making household bills increasingly difficult to afford.

Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial said most of the tax collected through electricity bills consisted of sales tax, which is applied under the country’s taxation system. He added that several exemptions were already available for electricity consumers.

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    Another Reko Diq-Sized mining project in Pakistan,…

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He explained that project costs are currently being reassessed, after which developers will return to financiers to finalize the remaining funding package. The first phase of the Reko Diq project is estimated to cost around $7.7 billion, while the US Exim Bank has already offered $1.25 billion in financing. However, the overall financial structure remains under discussion. The project has experienced delays due to rising construction costs and security concerns in Balochistan, prompting project stakeholders to revise cost estimates more than once. Earlier this year, Barrick Gold, which owns a 50 percent stake in the project, also reviewed development timelines because of increasing costs and security-related challenges. Major Economic Benefits Expected The embassy official said Reko Diq has the potential to transform Pakistan’s economy once it becomes fully operational. 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He said American companies believe Pakistan has enormous untapped potential, particularly as global demand for copper is expected to rise sharply over the coming decades. The official added that US firms are actively seeking long-term supply agreements for minerals extracted from Pakistani mines, while some investors are interested in purchasing and developing smaller mining assets. Investment Opportunities Across Pakistan Besides Balochistan, American investors are also exploring mineral opportunities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, particularly for copper deposits, while rare earth mineral prospects in Gilgit-Baltistan have also attracted attention. The official said the United States is searching globally for around 60 critical minerals needed for emerging technologies, many of which are found in Pakistan. He noted that several companies have already begun exploration and extraction activities in different regions of the country. 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He noted that Pakistan’s participation in the US Critical Minerals Initiative earlier this year reflects growing cooperation between the two countries in securing future mineral supply chains. According to the official, if exploration and investment continue at the current pace, Pakistan’s mining industry could emerge as one of the country’s strongest economic sectors over the next 10 to 20 years, creating employment, increasing exports and significantly boosting national revenues.

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