Not Just Women: Nearly 40% Of Workplace Harassment Complaints In Pakistan Were Filed By Men

Last Updated:July 05, 2026, 10:29 IST

Despite the increase in complaints, officials believe workplace harassment remains significantly underreported.

More than 500 men approached Pakistan’s Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment (FOSPAH) with workplace harassment complaints over the past year, making up nearly 40 per cent of all reported cases, according to official records.

Documents obtained by The Express Tribune show that 1,290 workplace harassment complaints were filed with FOSPAH during the period. Of these, 769 complaints were lodged by women, while 521 were filed by men, highlighting that workplace harassment affects employees across genders.

Islamabad Reported The Highest Number Of Cases

Among male complainants, Islamabad recorded the highest number with 231 cases, followed by Punjab with 222. Peshawar reported 42 complaints, while Karachi recorded 24. Balochistan registered the lowest number, with just two cases, according to the official data.

FOSPAH officials said the larger number of complaints from Islamabad reflects greater awareness of the legal process available to victims.

Awareness Campaigns Encourage Victims To Come Forward

Officials said the ombudsperson’s office has been running awareness campaigns across the country under the leadership of Federal Ombudsperson Fauzia Waqar to educate employees about their legal rights.

The campaigns encourage women, men and transgender persons facing workplace harassment to seek legal protection and report incidents through the available mechanisms.

Law Expanded To Cover Wider Forms Of Harassment

Pakistan first introduced its workplace anti-harassment law in 2010. In 2022, Parliament broadened the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act by expanding the definition of harassment beyond sexual misconduct to include behaviour that creates a hostile, intimidating or abusive work environment.

The amendment widened legal protection for employees experiencing different forms of workplace harassment.

Underreporting And Weak Enforcement Remain Challenges

Despite the increase in complaints, officials believe workplace harassment remains significantly underreported.

According to The Express Tribune, harassment in many public offices is often systemic, with employees reluctant to report abuse because of fears of retaliation and a workplace culture where senior officials are rarely challenged.

While legal safeguards have expanded, implementation remains uneven, particularly in the public sector, where investigations are often criticised as inadequate and complainants may face retaliation after reporting alleged harassment.

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Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ...Read More

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