The bill- passed by the Parliament in January- became law with Zardari's signature. In addition to imprisonment, lesser punishments include sacking or demotion.

"We have to create a Pakistan where the coming generations, my daughters, can be proud of the fact that they live as equals. We will make sure that those who wish to harm the ideology of Quaid-e-Azam which was for equality, for men and women, shall not succeed," said Zardari.

He was addressing a gathering of women from different walks of life, after signing the historic legislation here at the President House.

"We shall do our utmost by the end of this tenure, and all the rights, that we enjoy as men shall be enjoyed by women as well," he promised.

He urged the government to seek guidance from Benazir Bhutto's vision to achieve gender equality.

The bill aims at creating a safe working environment for women that is free of harassment, abuse and intimidation with a view towards fulfillment of their right to work with dignity.

Under the law a victim of harassment can now go to a police station to get the offender arrested and if the charges are proven in court, the offender will face up to three months in prison and a fine of Rs50,000.

The bill requires all public and private organizations to adopt an internal Code of Conduct and a complain or appeals mechanism aimed at establishing a safe working environment, free of intimidation and abuse, for all working women.

Under the bill each organization shall constitute an Inquiry Committee, comprising of three members - including one female member, within 30 days to enquire into complaints.