Pakistan Ombudsmen reaffirm commitment to public grievance redressal

The 32nd meeting of the Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman (FPO) was held at the Federal Tax Ombudsman Secretariat, Islamabad and was presided by Hon’ble Naveed Kamran Baloch ,Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, in the absence of Hon’ble Zafar Hijazi who, is the incumbent President of esteemed Forum of Pakistan Ombudsmen, comprising all 14 Federal and Provincial Ombudsmen and Ombudspersons in Pakistan. Welcoming the participants, Mr. Almas Ali Jovindah, Executive Secretary FPO, conveyed President FPO Hon’ble Zafar Hijazi’s message emphasizing that all Fourteen Ombudsmen, from Federal to Provincial together, form the largest network of administrative justice in this country and act as the safety valve of governance while bridging citizen and State. Forum extended a warm welcome to new members including Honourable Naveed Kamran Baloch, Federal Ombudsman, Hon’ble Mohammad Arif Khan Rathore, Ombudsman Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Hon’ble Ms. Najma Afzal Khan Provincial Ombudsperson Punjab and Hon’ble Ms. Tahira Baloch, Provincial Ombudsperson Balochistan, to this Forum. All the worthy Ombudsmen reaffirmed the commitment that the primary objective of ombudsman institutions is to restore complainants’ confidence through effective grievance redressal while promoting good governance, accountability and administrative justice across Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Honorable Kamran Baloch, Federal Ombudsman emphasizesd to share best practices amongst the members of the Forum and to create greater public awareness regarding citizens’ rights to have their grievances resolved. The forum paid tribute to outgoing Federal Ombudsman Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi in recognition of his valuable services to the institution of Wafaqi Mohtasib and his contributions as former President of the Asian Ombudsman Association. Participants also discussed the need to introduce AI amongst the Ombudsman Institutions to have better facilitation for the grievances of general Public. Honorable Fauzia Viqar FOSPAH Chairpe