NA passes law against women harassment

The committee would have to initiate proceedings within three days of receipt of complaints and give its findings in writing to the competent authority within 30 days of initiation of inquiry. If the inquiry committee finds the accused to be guilty it will recommend the competent authority penalties specified in this law which include reduction to a lower post, compulsory retirement, removal from service and dismissal from service.
The respective govt would have to appoint an ombudsperson at the federal and provincial levels who has been a judge of a high court or qualified to be appointed as judge of a high court. The complainant would have option to refer a complaint either to the ombudsperson or the inquiry committee.
Any person aggrieved by a decision of ombudsperson within 30 days of the decision can make an appeal to the President or the Governor.
Under the new law the employers have been bound to ensure implementation of this act, incorporate the code of conduct for protection of employees from harassment as part of their management policy and form the inquiry committee of the organisation.
Earlier during question-hour, Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal told the lower house that the ministry has established Agriculture Policy Institute (API) to formulate rational price policy for major and minor crops.
Responding to another question, Mir Humayun Aziz Kurd, Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development informed the house that government has strict policy regarding the checking of imported meat quality. There are three microbial testing laboratories operating under Animal Quarantine Department to carry out checks for microbial status of imported meat.
About the deep sea trawlers, he said that government has not granted any license since December, 2005 and maintained that local fishermen are operating in their respective zones.
National Assembly was also informed that two centers for liver transplantation would be shortly functional at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad and Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore.