Workplace harassment has surged in Pakistan with hundreds of men reporting abuse
Men are increasingly reporting workplace harassment in Pakistan, with official records revealing that 521 men filed complaints with the Federal Ombudsman for Protection from Harassment (FOSPAH) over the past year, accounting for about 40% of all cases.According to official documents obtained by The Express Tribune, a total of 1,290 workplace harassment complaints were submitted to FOSPAH during the year. Of these applications, men submitted 521 applications, while women submitted 769 applications.The data challenges the perception that workplace harassment is predominantly a women’s issue and highlights the scale of gender mistreatment. Among male complainants, Islamabad recorded the highest number with 231 cases, followed by Punjab with 222.
Peshawar reported 42 cases, Karachi 24, and Balochistan only two.
Harassment goes beyond sexual misconduct
Officials from FOSPAH attributed the higher number of complaints received from Islamabad to increased public awareness about the legal mechanism available to victims. The Foundation organized nationwide awareness campaigns under the leadership of Federal Ombudsman Fouzia Waqar to inform employees of their legal rights and encourage victims – including women, men and transgender people – to seek legal redress.
In 2022, Parliament amended the Protection from Harassment of Women in the Workplace Act 2010, expanding its definition of harassment to include conduct that creates a hostile or abusive work environment, providing broader protections beyond mere sexual misconduct.
Systemic abuse and reporting barriers
Despite the rise in the number of complaints, harassment remains significantly under-reported. In Pakistani public offices, harassment by superiors is often systemic, with subordinates suffering without recourse due to fear of retaliation and a “boss is always right” mentality.Pakistan’s anti-harassment law was originally introduced in 2010, with the definition expanded in 2022 to include non-sexual harassment. However, implementation remains inconsistent, especially in the public sector, where investigations are often superficial and complainants face retaliation.