Passengers' problems at airports: three-man body formed to evolve strategy: Khokhar

Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis Hafiz Ahsan Ahmad Khokhar Wednesday said that three committees have been formed to evolve a strategy how to provide integrated working mechanism to resolve passengers' problems on the spot at national airports.
To address grievances of Overseas Pakistanis, Federal Ombudsman has established the Grievance Commissioner Cell for Overseas Pakistanis at Federal Ombudsman Secretariat headed by Hafiz Ahsan Ahmad Khokhar Advocate Supreme Court as Senior Advisor Law/Registrar/Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis. Khokhar arranged a select group of journalists to Benazir International Airport, Islamabad for examining the existing facilities for Overseas Pakistanis where One Window Facilitation Desk (OWFD) has been established to serve expatriate Pakistanis upon their arrival, adding that the committees shall furnish their report in a week.
Several key ministries and division have been taken onboard for resolving issues faced by overseas Pakistanis as OWFD is being represented by 12 stakeholders including Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Board of Revenue, Federal Investigation Agency, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, Overseas Employment Corporation, Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony, National Database & Registration Authority, Pakistan International Airlines Corporation, Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, Airport Security Force and Anti-Narcotics Force.
Briefing journalists, Khokhar said that five OWFDs at Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta airports, are working to facilitate Overseas Pakistanis. He further said that the desks are operational round-the-clock and all Agencies concerned ensure the presence of their officials that no desk would be left unattended. Khokhar informed that Overseas Pakistanis Foundation and Civil Aviation Authority are acting as complaint handling/co-ordination agencies which he said, were submitting weekly reports regularly to head of their respective agencies and Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis for monitoring purpose.
He said the steps included establishing of an independent website www.overseas.federalombudsman.gov.pk, appointment of focal persons at all relevant ministries and departments as well as concerned embassies of Pakistan are completed. He said that hearing of overseas complaints through video link, online attestation of documents, E-Gate immigration facility at international airports of Pakistan are underway to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis.