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ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Wednesday restricted Islamic banks from imposing abayas on their female staff, and called for following a modest national dress code for all irrespective of gender.
A meeting of the panel, presided over by Senator Saleem H. Mandviwalla, took up complaints regarding dress code instructions at certain banks, particularly those running Islamic operations.
Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur informed the committee that female employees were allegedly being compelled to wear abayas, although there was no such compulsion for male staff who were free to dress as they chose.
Senator Sherry Rehman argued that no employee should be forced to adopt any specific attire. She remarked that a shalwar kameez, as worn by ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was also sufficient for other women, adding that the state had defined national dress for both genders.
