The National Highway Authority (NHA) has warned its employees against workplace harassment after receiving at least 10 verbal complaints from female interns alleging misconduct by officers and officials during the current year.
The complaints were brought to the attention of the NHA’s Committee for Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace, prompting the committee to issue a circular directing employees to maintain professional standards and refrain from any form of harassment or inappropriate behaviour.
Sources told The Nation that at least 10 female interns had approached the committee with verbal complaints against NHA officers and officials.
None of the complainants had submitted a formal written complaint, the sources said, adding that the grievances had been addressed individually with the involvement of senior officials from the relevant wings.
The NHA engages college and university students as interns to provide them with practical experience in a professional environment, with placements generally offered around the middle of the year.
In its circular, the committee described the complaints as a matter of “great concern” and an embarrassment for the organisation. It directed all employees to refrain from inappropriate or sexually oriented remarks, gestures and comments, as well as any unwanted physical contact with employees, interns or trainees.
The circular also stressed that all official communications, including telephone calls, text messages, emails and interactions on social media, must remain professional and appropriate. Employees were instructed to respect the dignity and privacy of their colleagues, interns and trainees, irrespective of their gender, rank or religion.
The authority specifically warned employees against abusing their official position, authority or influence to seek personal or sexual favours. It also prohibited intimidation, victimisation or retaliation against anyone who reported a complaint to the workplace harassment committee.
Emphasising the need to uphold professional standards, the circular directed employees to maintain discipline, decency and appropriate conduct when dealing with colleagues, subordinates, interns, trainees and visitors.
It warned that disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against employees found to have violated the instructions under the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, as amended in 2022.
Heads of wings at the NHA headquarters, as well as officials overseeing zones, regions, projects and sections, have been directed to circulate the instructions among their officers and staff and ensure strict compliance.
The NHA’s Chief Executive Officer, Captain (Retired) Asadullah Khan, confirmed to The Nation that the matter had come to his attention and pledged strict action against employees found involved in such misconduct.
He said the authority would go beyond issuing warnings and would pursue those involved, even where complaints had been made verbally.
“I have issued the directions. No one will be spared,” he said. “The issue is not tolerable.”
The post NHA Warns Employees Against Harassment After Female Interns’ Complaints appeared first on ProPakistani.