PESHAWAR: A 20-member delegation from the Centre for Peace and Development Institutes (CPDI) on Wednesday visited the Provincial Ombudsman Secretariat to familiarize themselves with the role and objectives of the Provincial Ombudsman.
Provincial Ombudsman Syed Jamal Ud Din Shah warmly welcome the delegation and commended the international organizations for their efforts in advancing good governance.
Syed Jamal Ud Din Shah, in his opening remarks, praised CPDI for its significant contributions to promoting good governance, particularly in enhancing various institutions such as police reforms, media, and legislative advancements.
He provided insights into the Provincial Ombudsman’s role, noting that over five thousand cases have been registered so far, with a notable increase in current cases compared to last year.
He highlighted the recent establishment of regional offices in Abbottabad, DI Khan, and Swat, which have facilitated easier access for complainants to lodge their grievances closer to home instea
d of visiting the Provincial Ombudsman Secretariat.
He also emphasized the pivotal roles played by investigation officers, advisors, and consultants, ensuring adherence to the Ombudsman Act of 2010 with outstanding implementation of cases.
“We have received full cooperation from Provincial Government departments,” he added, “with each department designating a focal person to handle Ombudsman cases and oversee their proper implementation.
We are planning to further expand by opening additional regional offices in Southern Districts and the formerly Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) merged areas.”
During the meeting, Johar Ali Shah, Secretary Ombudsman Secretariat delivered a detailed presentation highlighting various achievements through informative slides. He also explained the Mandate of Ombudsman office, procedures of lodging Complaints and hosting of awareness campaign.
Provincial Coordinator of CPDI, expressed gratitude to the Provincial Ombudsman for swiftly addressing the concerns of ordin
ary citizens.
He underscored CPDI’s commitment to enhancing citizen participation in governance, particularly through projects aimed at strengthening local government, building civil society organizations’ capacity, and promoting women’s rights.