OMBUDSMAN OFFICES SET UP IN ALL DISTRICTS IN PUNJAB

Lahore: Offices of Ombudsman Punjab have been established in all the districts of Punjab province to closely monitor and check the maladministration of the government departments at lower level and give relief to the public at their door steps.

Ombudsman Punjab, Javed Mahmood has issued notification in this regard and copies of the same have been endorsed to all the commissioners and District Co-ordination Officers of the province for co-ordination and implementation.

All the districts have been designated as Regional Offices of the Ombudsman Punjab except Lahore and District Advisors would be posted to execute these offices very soon, as homework for this purpose is complete, briefed the Ombudsman Punjab. District Advisors would make efforts to resolve the complaints at local level and forward the same to Ombudsman if the intervention of higher authority is required.

Proposal is under consideration to extend the territorial jurisdiction of Ombudsman Office to Tehsil and Union Council level as well, told Ombudsman Punjab.

Javed Mahmood said that by extending the territorial jurisdiction of the office to district level, one would easily access Ombudsman Office and get relief on spot, without further delay. Such committed, hardworking and noble persons may also be posted as District Advisors who are ready to serve the nation and country voluntarily.

For this purpose, retired senior civil servants of federal & provincial governments, army personals, retired judges, engineers, doctors, legal experts, members of reputable NGO’s & Human Rights, traders and media persons having non-political background may also approach to serve as District Advisors, told Ombudsman Punjab. Aggrieved persons may be able to lodge their complaints at regional offices of their concerned districts, saving their valuable time and avoiding hazards of journey.

It will help to save huge amount incurred on TA/DA of the government employees who have to appear before inquiry officers of Ombudsman Punjab at Lahore, Sargodha, Rawalpindi and Multan and they will be able to be available in their offices for the people as well, said Ombudsman Punjab.

Ombudsman Punjab has mandate to oversee the maladministration of the government departments, analyze the level of grievances of public due to misuse of powers of government agencies and submit recommendations for good governance to the government.

New system will not only help in promoting healthy trends in government agencies to work according to the framed laws and regulations but also assist the government to ensure good governance at lower level. Ombudsman Office is the “poor man’s court” where one can get relief without spending a single penny as no stamp paper, court fee etc. and services of lawyer are required to submit and follow a complaint at the offices of Ombudsman Punjab.

Work load of the apex courts may be lessened if people start approaching Ombudsman Offices in place of local courts in petty issues, hoped Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood.