A Senate committee questioned the abaya dress code in Pakistan after lawmakers learnt some Islamic banks were pressuring female staff to wear abayas. The committee asked the State Bank of Pakistan to act, calling it a matter of personal choice. This report is based on information published by Dawn.
Abaya Dress Code in Pakistan: Senate Asks SBP to Stop Forced Attire
The Senate Standing Committee on Finance turned its full attention to the abaya dress code in Pakistan when Senator Zarqa Suharwardy raised a concern that Islamic banks were telling female employees to wear abayas. She said women already dress modestly and should not face pressure to adopt a religious appearance at work.
The committee chair, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, opened the floor. The SBP representative said every bank sets its own policy, which made the committee question how far a bank can go in shaping personal presentation. Senator Farooq Naik called the reported requirement a violation of individual freedom. He said forcing an abaya on a female employee felt similar to forcing a beard on a man.
Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kiyani said he had not heard of this rule before. He assured the committee he would discuss it directly with the SBP governor.
The committee then recommended that the State Bank issue a clear notification. Banks should adopt a professional and modest dress code. They should not mandate abaya in banks of Pakistan. They should not enforce a specific abaya dress code for ladies.
