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       QUETTA: The Baloch-is--tan Assembly’s standing committee on women development, in its meeting on Tuesday, has discussed steps to stren-gthen workplace and harassment laws for women.

       The meeting, presided over by Chairman Fazal Qadir Mandokhail, focu-s--ed on the Draft Amend-m-ent Bill 2025, which seeks to fortify legal frame-wor-ks ensuring equality, res-p-ect, and protection for wo--men in professional settings.

       A key proposal discussed that involved revising the procedure for appointing support staff in the Ombuds-person’s Office, aimed at enhancing its self-sufficiency and operational capacity.

       Lawmakers also called for structural reforms to empower the Ombuds-person and ensure timely and just handling of harassment complaints.

       “The amendment’s int-ent is not only to shield women from harassment but to promote a culture of fairness, dignity, and inc-lusivity across all workpl-aces,” the committee emp-hasised.

       The proposed legislation has been hailed as a milestone in advancing women’s rights in Ba--lochistan, reinforcing the provincial government’s commitment to building a more inclusive and supportive work en-vironment for women, it added.

       The meeting was atten-ded by Deputy Speaker Ghazala Gola, Raheela Hameed Durrani, Rub-a--ba Khan Buledi, Safia Bibi, Meena Majeed Bal-och, and senior officials incl-uding Assembly Sec-re-tary Tahir Shah Kakar, Women Development Secretary Saira Atta,

       and Special Secretary Abdul Rehman.

       Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2025