Police Department remain on top in complaints against government agencies

Lahore: Ombudsman Punjab Office remained active in extending outreach programme during 2014 and finally managed to win the confidence of general public due to steps taken for the redressal of their grievances. In response, people recognizing the importance and utility of ombudsman office, lodged 21899 complaints during last year.

Ombudsman Punjab, Javed Mahmood, took notice of as many as 11505 news items and media reports appeared in national/regional newspapers and telecast at news channels. These media reports were forwarded to the concerned authorities for provision of relief.

According to Ombudsman Punjab Annual Report 2014, with reference to the complaints against government agencies, Police Department remained on top, Education came on number two, Revenue, Local Government and Health Department on number three, four and five respectively.

Ombudsman Punjab submitted Annual Report 2014 to Governor Punjab well in time and now has dispatched copies of the report to Members of Provincial Cabinet, Members of Punjab Assemblies, Chief Secretary, IG Punjab, Administrative Secretaries, Commissioners, RPOs, DCOs, DPOs, Heads of attached departments, renowned educational institutes, libraries, and print & electronic media.

According to report, 21,899 complaints were received during last year while 9776 left over complaints of 2013 were also processed which is the highest number of complaints ever its inception of Ombudsman Punjab Office since 1996-97. As many as 26622 complaints were disposed of out of 31899 during last year.

Ombudsman Punjab took notice of 11505 media reports appeared in print and electronic media and send the same to concerned agencies for provision of relief. Ombudsman Punjab while activating the office introduced a number of initiatives like “Open Door Policy”.

As per “Open Door Policy”, all the air-conditioners of the offices were donated to the government hospitals 2013 and the same were installed in general wards for patients, keeping the doors of officers of Ombudsman Punjab open for general public. In this way Ombudsman Punjab office also contributed a bit to save the power for better purposes as the nation was already suffering due to scarcity of power. This policy was highly appreciated by all quarters of society.

According to extending outreach program, offices of Ombudsman Punjab have been establish in each district of the province very first time and all district offices have been made fully function too. Now, the complainant may lodge its complaint at district level and get relief at doorstep avoiding botheration and saving time & money.

Ombudsman Punjab Office has resolved a number of cases, filed by the complainants during 2014 in which thousand of cases of Pension, Benevolent Fund, GP Fund, Scholarships and Widow Aid Grant, regular appointment of family member of deceased employee (Rule 17-A). and award of financial benefits to the pensioners and their families. Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood, while taking serious notice of media reports, conducted a number of visits to the far flung areas of the province and ordered concerned agencies to provide relief to the residents of those areas.

Statistical analysis, volume and causes of complaints against government agencies, performance of Mohtasib Punjab Pension Cell & Provincial Commissioner for Children and Important Findings are also included in Ombudsman Punjab Annual Report 2014.