Senate passes bill for maternity, paternity leave for employees.

ISLAMABAD -- The Senate on Monday passed a bill of Senator Quratulain Marri for allowing maternity and paternity leave to the employees of public and private establishments.

When the bill was presented in the House, Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar opposed it, saying there was already a law to give 90-day maternity leaves to the female employees while the male government employees could avail 48-day leaves in a year.

According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, working women were a growing reality in Pakistan.

In order to facilitate women to fulfill the obligations of motherhood without having to compromise on their professional growth, Article 37(e) of the Constitution of Pakistan provided the maternity benefits to women and entitled them to leave.

The bill aimed to provide...