MUZAFFARABAD: The federal ombudsman (Wafaqi Mohtasib) Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi on Wednesday asked the heads of federal agencies in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to ensure the speedy resolution of public complaints in the region.

He issued this directive at the inaugural ceremony of the Wafaqi Mohtasib’s regional office in Muzaffarabad.

He asserted that the regional office was continuously reaching out to the public, resulting in an increasing number of people contacting it to address their grievances.

The outgoing year, 2024, he said, witnessed a record increase in the receipt and disposal of complaints.

Sharing figures, the federal ombudsman said that his secretariat had received 226,372 complaints in the previous year, out of which 223,171 were disposed of, reflecting a 17pc increase in receipt and a 16pc increase in disposal compared to 2023.

“Our investigating officers traveled across the country and held Khuli Katcheries (open courts where citizens can voice their grievances) to dispense administrative justice at the doorsteps of the people,” he said, claiming that his office was truly a ‘poor man’s court’.

He informed that with the opening of regional offices in Muzaffarabad and Gilgit, the institution’s presence had stretched to 24 cities across the country.

More regional offices were expected to open later this year, he added.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by senior officials from AJK, along with the heads of federal agencies, members of civil society, and the media.

Later, speaking at a press conference, he lauded the constructive role played by the media and said it remained instrumental in raising public awareness about the availability of this useful forum for the prompt redress of public complaints.

Mr Qureshi invited the media to continue supporting the institution in enhancing awareness for the general good of the people at large.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2025

Opinion

Editorial

The Peca problem
15 Feb, 2025

The Peca problem

THE movement against the deeply problematic Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and the recent amendments made to it...
Solar panels scam
15 Feb, 2025

Solar panels scam

THE scam involving over-invoicing to the tune of more than Rs69bn in the import of solar panels raises many ...
Miners in danger
15 Feb, 2025

Miners in danger

YESTERDAY’S devastating terrorist attack in Harnai, which killed at least 11 coal miners and injured seven others,...
Dangerous times
Updated 14 Feb, 2025

Dangerous times

Pakistan accounted for six journalist killings in 2024, of which three were deliberately murdered, according to the CPJ.
Difficult target
14 Feb, 2025

Difficult target

A ONE-two punch delivered by an unforeseen, sharp dip in inflation and an extremely slim base of taxpayers is...
Amazing show
14 Feb, 2025

Amazing show

PAKISTAN’S ability to turn it up at the flick of a switch remains uninhibited. The latest show came in...