LAHORE, October 13: The fifth annual ombuds day-2022 was celebrated in Pakistan and other countries of the world on Thursday. Regional offices of the Office of Ombudsman Punjab arranged functions and media briefings in districts to sensitize the people about the institutional mechanism of protecting their rights so that no government official or department could be negligent in upholding the legal rights of the citizens.
This was stated by the spokesman of the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab in a statement issued on Thursday.
The spokesman explained that the provincial ombudsman office was playing an important role in ensuring good governance through the eradication of corrupt practices and maladministration. It has realized government officials that are accountable to the people and no dereliction would be tolerated in this regard. In this way, the establishment of a law-abiding society is bolstered and the public trust in the government is also strengthened, the spokesman asserted.
The Office of the Ombudsman Punjab provides free and expeditious relief to applicants. In the 25 years of its existence, the ombudsman office has redressed 347,369 public complaints, it noted.
The provincial spokesman office has dexterously employed information and communication tools for the prompt registration of public complaints; the spokesman noted and added that Pakistan residents and expatriates, from across the globe, could online lodge their complaints to the concerned regional office through the official website or they may use the bilingual mobile application OPMIS. The complaints could also be mailed or deposited in person. A focal person has also been nominated for dealing with the complaints of the overseas Pakistanis, added the spokesman.
Alongside this, a dedicated helpline 1050 has been launched to help and guide the citizens. A working group has been formed through the Chief Provincial Commissioner for Children to protect the rights of children and to save them from online harassment or exploitation, the spokesman reported.
Instead of remaining silent on the violation of their rights, the people should contact the relevant regional ombudsman office to protect their legal rights, concluded the spokesman.
