Jan 11 , 2016
News
Overseas Pakistanis : Ombudsman takes notice of delay in complaints’ rectification
APP
ISLAMABAD: Senior Advisor Law and Registrar of Federal Ombudsman and Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar has taken notice on the instructions of Federal Ombudsman Salman Farooqi for provision of facilities and addressing delay in resolving complaints of expatriates.
These have been filed by overseas Pakistanis and passengers at Pakistan’s international airports. In a statement on Sunday, Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar said decisions on complaints would be taken on then-and-there basis as representatives of all agencies would be present at the airport during hearing of complaints in this regard. He said the Ombudsman had directed all departments concerned to ensure decisions on complaints within 15 days, otherwise, hearings would be held at the airports. He paid a surprise visit to one Window Facilitation Desk (OWFD) for Overseas Pakistanis at the Allama Iqbal International Airport and said the decision had been taken to speed up the process and for more awareness of passengers.
He said millions of people lived and travelled to and from abroad and they did send billions of dollars in the country, which was a big contribution, adding that these people should given full respect. Hafiz Ahsaan said recently a complaint was received against a custom officer about demanding money from a passenger to which the department had initiated an inquiry. He said about 2 lacs complaints had been resolved after the setting up the desk. He urged people to register their complaints through website. He stated that OWFDs had been set up at six airports, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Multan.
He earlier heard complaints at Lahore Airport and disposed off all complaints on spot. He asked all representatives of 12 agencies to reply all complaints within 24 hours and resolve in next three days under intimation to Ombudsman Secretariat. Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmed Khokhar said after his visit to Lahore Airport, there was no case pending against any agency according to the record of complaints maintained on the directions of Federal Ombudsman Secretariat by CAA and OPF. The Grievance Commissioner for overseas Pakistanis said ASF has been advised to submit the strategy of lost luggage of passengers.
He said the Customs had been advised to submit inquiry report of reported incident in next three days where bribe was demanded from a Pakistani student leaving for Canada at Lahore Airport. He briefed the participants agencies on initiatives for jail and police reforms which have been taken by Federal Ombudsman Secretariat and the plan has been made to go to district level all over of the country for resolution of public complaints. Khokhar said strict action will be taken against certain delinquent officials who misbehaved to the overseas Pakistanis and failed to show their presence at facilitation desks at airports.
The Grievance Commissioner further said on a complaint against missing facilities in international flights of PIA, notice has been issued to all General Managers of PIA related to services on January 13 for their personal appearance along with report.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk