Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment (FOSPAH) Fauzia Viqar has imposed a Rs500,000 fine on the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for rejecting an employee’s request for paternity leave. The decision was issued after an officer from SBP’s Banking Services Corporation filed a complaint, stating that his leave application was denied due to the absence of an internal policy. In a landmark ruling, Fauzia Viqar emphasized that fathers are legally entitled to paternity leave and that childcare is a shared responsibility of both parents. She ordered SBP to grant the employee 30 days of fully paid paternity leave and directed the bank to implement a formal policy in accordance with the Maternity and Paternity Leave Act, 2023. The Act, enacted in June 2023, ensures leave rights for employees in public and private organizations under federal control. This major decision strengthens fathers’ rights in Pakistan and reinforces compliance with federal labor and leave laws.