Key points: 

• Significant Penalty: FOSPAH levied a collective Rs2.7 million FOSPAH harassment fine against five executives. 

• Victim Retaliation: The executives faced charges of misconduct, deleting evidence, and forcing a resignation. 

• Defense Rejected: The Ombudsman ruled that a worker’s attire or personality never justifies workplace abuse. 

• Corporate Mandate: Therefore, the employer must completely reform its internal committee within 30 days. 

LAHORE – The Federal Ombudsman for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) has taken decisive action against corporate misconduct. In a recent ruling, the regulatory body imposed a collective Rs2.7 million FOSPAH harassment fine on five high-ranking officials of a private firm. This penalty was issued because the individuals were found guilty of workplace harassment and systematic retaliation against a female employee. 

Initially, the complainant brought the case forward after experiencing repeated inappropriate conduct, unwanted out-of-office meeting requests, and derogatory remarks from management. Furthermore, when she attempted to use internal channels to report the behavior, the company’s internal systems failed to protect her. For instance, one official actively neglected to secure vital CCTV footage. Meanwhile, others launched retaliatory actions that forced her resignation and blocked her remaining financial dues. 

FOSPAH Establishes Clear Legal Boundaries 

During the formal legal hearings, the accused attempted to defend their actions by criticizing the victim’s attire and social personality. However, the Federal Ombudsman categorically rejected these arguments. The tribunal ruled that an employee’s personal style or social demeanor can never be used as a defense for predatory behavior. 

“Politeness does not equal consent, and maintaining a secure, safe work environment remains a fundamental legal duty of the employer,” the formal verdict clarified. 

Ultimately, the Ombudsman confirmed the patterned harassment and workplace retaliation by using forensic evidence and supporting witness statements. Consequently, along with the heavy financial penalties, FOSPAH issued a mandatory directive to the private institution to reform its legal compliance structures. 

Case Compliance Overview 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What triggered the FOSPAH harassment fine? 

The penalty was issued after five corporate executives were found guilty of inappropriate workplace behavior, retaliatory actions, and deliberately failing to preserve security footage after a complaint was made. 

How did the Ombudsman address the defenses presented by the accused? 

FOSPAH completely rejected defenses targeting the victim’s attire or personality, explicitly stating that professional courtesy or politeness does not constitute consent. 

What corporate changes must the company make following the verdict? 

In addition to the financial penalties, the private company is legally required to completely restructure its internal anti-harassment committee within a strict 30-day window. 

Key points:

• Strategic Procurement: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police acquired 76 state-of-the-art KP Police surveillance drones to upgrade aerial monitoring.
• Advanced Technology: The fleet includes DJI Mavic 4T and DJI Matrice 400 RTK models equipped with thermal night-vision sensors.
• Target Operations: High-tech aerial units will support counterterrorism missions, intelligence operations, and emergency rescue services.
• Widespread Deployment: The equipment serves 27 districts and 7 specialized police units alongside mandatory operator training.

LAHORE – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police department has officially expanded its operational capabilities by deploying 76 advanced KP Police surveillance drones. This specialized aerial fleet introduces high-resolution thermal imaging and modern tracking systems to the front lines.

The new equipment will immediately enhance aerial monitoring, emergency disaster management, and counterterrorism efforts across the province.

During an official distribution ceremony at the Central Police Office in Peshawar, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed handed over the units. Representatives from 27 districts and seven distinct police departments received the newly acquired DJI Mavic 4T aircraft.

Thermal Night-Vision Empowers Counterterrorism Units 

To support high-risk security operations, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) received specialized DJI Matrice 400 RTK platforms.

These heavy-duty KP Police surveillance drones feature advanced thermal sensors. This specialized tech allows operators to safely track suspects, monitor isolated locations, and run search missions in absolute darkness.

Tech-driven policing remains a major development goal for provincial security. The integration of thermal night-vision allows field teams to track the movement of miscreants at night while keeping ground personnel out of harm’s way.

According to official specifications, these aircraft offer high flight speeds, long operational ranges, and stable payload capacities.

“Modernizing our infrastructure with automated surveillance tools ensures a faster response to threats and directly protects our officers,” IGP Hameed noted during the presentation.

To ensure long-term efficiency, specialized training programs are mandatory for all assigned pilots. These courses focus on flight safety, tactical tracking, and real-time data analysis.

Widespread Distribution Across 27 Districts 

The deployment spans major regional divisions, including Peshawar, Swat, Abbottabad, Mardan, and Dera Ismail Khan. Specialized branches—such as the Elite Force, Special Branch, and the Frontier Reserve Police (FRP) have also integrated the new platforms into their active patrol structures.

 Project Overview 

Why did the KP Police introduce these new surveillance drones? 

The fleet was acquired to improve provincial safety, assist in nighttime counterterrorism missions, monitor large public gatherings, and accelerate search-and-rescue operations during natural disasters.

What makes these specific drones different from commercial models?

These professional-grade platforms feature advanced thermal sensors capable of reading heat signatures in the dark, extended battery life for long-range operations, and higher payload capacities for specialized law enforcement gear.

Which divisions will operate the thermal drones? 

The drones are distributed across 27 districts and specialized combat divisions, including the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), the Elite Force, and the Special Branch.

LAHORE – The federal government has withdrawn the 20 per cent federal excise duty (FED) on certain low-sugar sports and hydration beverages through an amendment to the Finance Bill 2026 as part of the FY2026-27 budget.

Under the amendment, mineral water, aerated water, hydration drinks and electrolyte beverages specifically formulated to support hydration and electrolyte replenishment will no longer be subject to the 20pc FED if they contain artificial sweeteners or sugar, or both, not exceeding five grams per 100 millilitres.

The exemption is expected to benefit products such as Gatorade and Revive, sports drink brands marketed by PepsiCo, which had been at the centre of a tax dispute with authorities.

While the Federal Board of Revenue maintained that the products fell within the scope of the excise duty on beverages, the companies argued that their low sugar content and electrolyte formulation distinguished them from sugary drinks subject to the levy.

The change has been introduced through amendments to the Federal Excise Schedule under the Federal Excise Act via the Finance Bill 2026. Previously, the 20pc FED applied to mineral water, aerated water, hydration drinks and electrolyte beverages irrespective of their sugar or artificial sweetener content.

The amended provision excludes “mineral water, aerated water, hydration drinks, or electrolyte beverages specifically formulated to support hydration and electrolyte replenishment, containing artificial sweeteners or sugar, or both, not exceeding 5g per 100ml” from the scope of the excise duty.

The amendment follows concerns raised by the United States Embassy in Islamabad, which had urged the Ministry of Finance to address tax and customs disputes affecting multinational beverage companies operating in Pakistan.

The embassy said resolving issues related to customs classification, taxation and the FED would help support PepsiCo Pakistan’s manufacturing operations and encourage future foreign direct investment.