Maternity leave in Pakistan: duration, pay and notice by province
Written by the StreamHCM team for HR and payroll managers in Pakistan. Updated on 7 November 2026.
Maternity leave in Pakistan is provincial, not federal, for most private-sector workers. Under current commonly cited statutes, Sindh provides 16 weeks of paid maternity leave; Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad Capital Territory private establishments are commonly treated as 12 weeks under the older West Pakistan Maternity Benefit Ordinance framework or the matching provincial maternity benefits acts. Leave is paid at the woman's last drawn wages once she meets the qualifying service and notice rules. Female federal government staff follow a separate Act with longer entitlements. Always confirm the statute that covers your establishment and province before you write a policy or reject a claim.
HR teams get the same questions every year: how many weeks, is it paid, when must she apply, and can we end her contract while she is away. Wrong answers create labour disputes and unpaid benefit claims. A clear provincial policy, recorded leave types in the HR system, and payroll that continues wages on the right leave code keep both the employee and the company safe.
This guide is general information based on commonly cited provincial maternity benefit laws (including the Sindh Maternity Benefits Act, 2018, the West Pakistan Maternity Benefit Ordinance, 1958 as applied in several jurisdictions, and provincial maternity benefits acts such as KP 2013). Federal government staff are covered separately by the Maternity and Paternity Leave Act, 2023. Provincial labour codes continue to change. This is not legal advice. Check the text that applies to your province and establishment, or speak to a labour law adviser.
Why the answer depends on the province
After the 18th Amendment, labour is largely a provincial subject. A medical representative in Karachi and a plant supervisor in Lahore can have different statutory leave lengths for the same life event. Company policy can be more generous than the statute, but it should never promise less than the law that applies.
Duration and pay by province (private sector overview)
Use this as a starting checklist, then verify the current gazette for your province:
| Province / region | Commonly cited paid leave | Commonly cited statute |
|---|---|---|
| Sindh | 16 weeks | Sindh Maternity Benefits Act, 2018 |
| Punjab | 12 weeks | West Pakistan Maternity Benefit Ordinance, 1958 (and any later provincial updates you must check) |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 12 weeks | KP Maternity Benefits Act, 2013 |
| Balochistan | 12 weeks | West Pakistan Maternity Benefit Ordinance framework / provincial updates |
| Islamabad (ICT, private) | 12 weeks | West Pakistan Maternity Benefit Ordinance framework |
| Federal government staff | Longer, birth-order based (up to 180 days for a first birth under the 2023 Act) | Maternity and Paternity Leave Act, 2023 |
Across these maternity benefit laws, the benefit is paid at last drawn wages for the entitled period once the woman qualifies. Do not treat statutory maternity leave as unpaid annual leave, and do not dock the amount from a later bonus or gratuity.
Qualifying service and notice
Entitlement usually needs a minimum period of continuous service before the expected delivery date, plus notice to the employer. Exact numbers differ by province. Commonly cited patterns:
- Sindh: about one continuous year of service, with a written application roughly twelve weeks before the expected delivery (and short post-delivery notice windows where the birth is early).
- Punjab / KP / Balochistan (Ordinance-style rules): shorter qualifying service (often around four months) and notice up to about six weeks before, with room for notice soon after an unexpected birth.
Keep the application, medical certificate where required, and acknowledgment on the employee documents file. Missing paperwork is the usual reason benefits are delayed.
Dismissal protection
Maternity benefit laws generally bar dismissal while a woman is on maternity leave. Some texts, including Sindh's 2018 Act, also restrict dismissals designed to avoid paying the benefit in the months before leave. A dismissal that ignores those protections can be challenged. Pair this with a clean notice period and offboarding process so exits are never informal WhatsApp decisions.
Return to work, nursing breaks and related leave
When she returns, seniority and continuous service for benefits such as provident fund and gratuity should keep running through the leave. Some provincial rules (notably Sindh) also address nursing breaks or day-care access. Company leave policies should say how maternity leave interacts with annual leave and with leave encashment at year-end or exit. Maternity leave itself is not annual leave to encash.
Paternity leave
Statutory paternity leave is still limited. Federal government employees have a defined entitlement under the 2023 Act. Most private-sector provincial maternity benefit laws do not yet create a long statutory paternity right, so private employers who offer a few days do so by policy. Write the policy clearly and load it as a leave type in your leave management software.
HR checklist for Pakistani employers
- Name the province and statute in the maternity leave policy.
- List qualifying service, notice window, required documents and pay rate (last drawn wages).
- Create a dedicated maternity leave type so attendance and payroll stay clean.
- Block informal exits during protected periods; route changes through HR.
- On return, restore the role and keep continuous service intact.
- For leavers who are pregnant or on leave, take legal advice before any termination step, and keep the paper trail with final settlement.
How StreamHCM helps
StreamHCM's leave management lets you configure maternity (and optional paternity) leave types by policy, capture applications and approvals, and keep balances separate from annual leave. Payroll continues wages on the correct leave code, and the employee record holds the notice and medical documents. See HR software in Pakistan and labour law leave entitlements.
Questions
How many weeks of maternity leave are there in Pakistan?
It depends on the province. Sindh is commonly 16 weeks; Punjab, KP, Balochistan and ICT private establishments are commonly 12 weeks under the older maternity benefit framework. Federal government staff follow a separate Act. Confirm the current statute for your workplace.
Is maternity leave paid?
Yes, under the maternity benefit laws discussed here the entitled period is paid at last drawn wages once the woman meets qualifying service and notice rules.
Can we dismiss someone on maternity leave?
Dismissal during maternity leave is generally unlawful under these statutes. Some provincial texts also protect against dismissals meant to avoid the benefit. Take advice before any exit.
Does annual leave get used for maternity leave?
No. Statutory maternity leave is a separate benefit. Do not force the employee to burn annual leave for it.
Is there statutory paternity leave in the private sector?
Usually not under the main provincial maternity benefit laws. Federal government employees have a statutory right under the 2023 Act. Private employers who offer paternity leave do so by policy.
Related: labour law leave entitlements, leave management guide, leave encashment calculator, appointment letter in Pakistan, notice period.
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