July 02, 2015
News
Resolution of overseas Pakistanis’ issues top priority: ombudsman
*Grievance commissioner directs 32 federal departments to submit reports regarding formulation of standards of good governance along with mechanism of monitoring and evaluation within 30 daysISLAMABAD: Federal Ombudsman Salman Faruqui on Wednesday said that all-out efforts will be made to resolve the issues of overseas Pakistanis at priority as they are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and paint true picture of Pakistan abroad.
The ombudsman told a meeting on the issues of overseas Pakistanis held at the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat that the government agencies should give respect to the overseas Pakistanis and must resolve their issues on priority basis. He appreciated the efforts of Hafiz Ahsaan Khokhar, Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis, for his efforts to provide a platform to all the stakeholders on the issues of overseas Pakistanis. He said that the doors of Wafaqi Mohtasib are open for the people of Pakistan and for overseas Pakistanis.
The meeting was attended by representatives of about 32 federal government departments.
Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis Hafiz Ahsaan Khokhar briefed the participants about the working of the office of Federal Ombudsman and mechanism for redressal of complaints by the overseas Pakistanis.
Briefing the participants, Hafiz Ahsaan Khokhar said that almost 7.5 million Pakistanis were living in 124 countries. He said that the Wafaqi Mohtasib has decided 152,000 complaints in two years. He said no complaint is kept pending for more than 60 days. He highlighted the initiatives of the Grievance Cell for the overseas Pakistanis during the last 150 days.
Giving details of the initiatives, he said that the major achievements include exclusive website for handling overseas Pakistanis complaints at Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat, which has also been connected with all the relevant government departments. The address of the website is: www.overseaspakistanis.ombudsman.gov.pk and an online complaint resolution mechanism has been established in relevant government departments.
Hafiz Khokhar maintained that for the betterment of overseas Pakistanis, focal persons have been appointed for the services, complaints resolution and welfare of overseas Pakistanis in 92 embassies and missions abroad.
The grievance commissioner told the meeting that maximum complaints of overseas Pakistanis pending with government departments had been resolved and the departments concerned had been asked to resolve complaints in minimum time under intimation to the complainant and the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat. He said issues related to overseas Pakistanis received through emails or published in print media are being taken with the relevant authorities such as NADRA, Passports office, FIA, OPF, PIA, Customs and CAA.
He apprised the meeting that the Foreign Office has been recommended to make necessary arrangements for hearing of complaints through video links in Federal Ombudsman’s Secretariat with the Pakistan missions where presence of Pakistanis is higher, like US, UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia and UAE. As a pilot project, the Pakistani Consulate in New York will be connected in a few days.
He said that the HEC and Foreign Office have been recommended to resolve the issue of attestation of documents of overseas Pakistanis in systemic manner, He said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has been recommended to further facilitate the overseas Pakistanis to send their remittances home through legal channels.
The grievance commissioner said that for resolving problems of overseas Pakistanis at the airports, first one window facilitation desk has already been established at Islamabad airport. He said such desks will be extended to all airports of the country very soon. He said representatives of 12 government departments - OPF, Bureau of Immigration, Overseas Employment Corporation, FIA, FBR, PIA, CAA, ASF, ANF, Directorate of Passports and Immigration, NADRA and Ministry of Religious Affairs – have been deployed at the desk.
Hafiz Ahsaan directed representatives of all the government departments to submit their reports regarding formulation of standards of good governance within the organisation along with the mechanism of monitoring and evaluation in view of the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan within 30 days.
It was decided that the next meeting on the overseas issues would be held in the second week of August.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk