The Senate on Monday passed the Maternity and Paternity Leave Bill, 2018, which makes it mandatory for employers to grant six-months paid maternity leave and three-months paid paternity leave.

The leaves policy will be applicable in both public & private establishments in the federal capital territory, According to the proposed bill.

The bill was moved by Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Quratulain Marri. It had been with the senate standing committee for over a year.

however, Economic Affairs Minister Barrister Hammad Azhar opposed the bill and said that such long parental leaves were unnecessary, the constitution already allows 90 days of maternity leave, Nowhere in the world is such a long paternity leave given and it should be reduced to 15 days, according to the minister.

Male government employees already get a leave of 48 days while some women civil servants go on a three-month leave, Azhar said.