Following at least 10 verbal complaints of misconduct from female interns against officers and officials this year, the National Highway Authority issued a warning to its staff regarding workplace harassment.
The NHA Committee for Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace received these grievances, leading the committee to release a circular telling workers to uphold professional behavior and avoid any harassment.
According to sources speaking to The Nation, at least 10 female interns brought verbal complaints against NHA personnel.
Sources noted that none of the individuals submitted formal written complaints, while senior officials from relevant wings handled each grievance individually.
College and university students typically receive intern placements around the middle of the year to gain practical professional experience at the NHA.
The committee termed the reports a matter of great concern and an organizational embarrassment inside its circular, ordering all staff to stop unwanted physical contact, inappropriate remarks, gestures, and sexually oriented comments toward trainees, interns, and employees.
The document further emphasized that social media interactions, emails, text messages, and phone calls must stay professional. Workers received orders to respect the privacy and dignity of trainees, interns, and colleagues regardless of gender, religion, or rank.
Staff faced specific warnings from the authority against using their official influence, authority, or position to demand sexual or personal favors. The agency also banned retaliation, intimidation, or victimization directed at anyone reporting issues to the workplace harassment committee.
Calling for the maintenance of professional standards, the circular instructed personnel to keep decency, discipline, and proper conduct when interacting with visitors, trainees, interns, subordinates, and colleagues.
Any workers discovered breaking these rules under the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, as amended in 2022, will face disciplinary proceedings, the notice warned.
Zone, regional, project, and section officials, along with wing heads at NHA headquarters, received orders to distribute these directives to their staff and guarantee strict adherence.
Captain (Retired) Asadullah Khan, the Chief Executive Officer of the NHA, verified to The Nation that he is aware of the situation and promised severe penalties for any employees mixed up in such misconduct.
He stated that the organization will do more than send out warnings and will hunt down those responsible even if reports arrived verbally.
"I have issued the directions. No one will be spared," he said. "The issue is not tolerable."
