Ombudsman leaders join forces to transform Public Complaint System in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Ombudsman leaders from across Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir gathered in Islamabad to reaffirm their collective commitment to strengthening the public complaint system and to improve efficiency, promote good governance, and enhance citizen trust through faster and more effective grievance redressal. The meeting was presided over by Hon’ble Naveed Kamran Baloch, Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, in the absence of Hon’ble Zafar Hijazi, who serves as President of the Forum of Pakistan Ombudsmen. At the opening of the session, Executive Secretary FPO Mr. Almas Ali Jovindah delivered the message of President Zafar Hijazi, highlighting that the fourteen ombudsmen institutions across Pakistan collectively represent the country’s largest network of administrative justice. He emphasized their role as a vital “safety valve of governance,” bridging the gap between citizens and the state. The Forum extended warm welcome to newly joined members, including Federal Ombudsman Naveed Kamran Baloch, Ombudsman Azad Jammu and Kashmir Mohammad Arif Khan Rathore, Provincial Ombudsperson Punjab Ms. Najma Afzal Khan, and Provincial Ombudsperson Balochistan Ms. Tahira Baloch. Their inclusion was seen as further strengthening the collective institutional framework dedicated to public service and accountability. Participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring that the core purpose of ombudsman institutions remains the restoration of public confidence through effective and timely grievance resolution. They reiterated that promoting good governance, transparency, and administrative justice across Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir continues to be their central mission. Federal Ombudsman Naveed Kamran Baloch stressed the importance of enhancing collaboration among member institutions and promoting the exchange of best practices, while also increasing public awareness regarding citizens’ right to seek redress for their grievances. The Forum also paid tribute to outgoing