Federal Ombudsman Salman Farooqui said here on Wednesday that the President's orders on the appeals filed against the decisions of the Federal Ombudsman and the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) cannot be changed in courts of law. Addressing media persons in his office on Wednesday, Salman Farooqui said that government could not challenge the President's decision on the appeal against the decisions by the Federal Ombudsman and the FTO in courts of law.
However, the citizens can file an appeal with the President of the country against the decision by these two FTO and the Federal Ombudsman. Abdur Rauf Alam, President Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), and Chaudhry Abdul Rauf, Federal Tax Ombudsman, also shared their views here at the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat on Wednesday.
He said that the grievance officers have been appointed in all federal government agencies to resolve the citizen's complaints against their respective agency instantly but in no case in more than 15 days. "These officers belong to the same department and have been nominated by that agency heads," Salman Farooqui said.
He added that standees have placed in each agency indicating the name and contact number of the grievance officers for information of the complaint, who can approach him without any hindrance. The details of these officers are also available on the website of the Federal Ombudsman. If unresolved within the specified period, the complaint automatically comes to the complaint management system (CMIS) of this secretariat for normal processing, he added.
Salman Farooqui highlighted the functions of the office of the Ombudsman and said that ensuring high standards of governance, accountability and efficiency along with providing inexpensive and expeditious justice to the citizens is the objective behind establishment of these Institutions. "These institutions have been established to address the public complaints against government departments and functionaries," he added. Salman Farooqui said out of 1,000 decisions made by the Federal Ombudsman, only 37 appeals have been filed.
He said Wafaqi Mohtasib has undertaken an unprecedented and new Swift Redressal System closest to the doorstep of the complaints at tehsil or district headquarters in 515 tehsils and 133 districts under this initiative. The advisors of the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat and its Regional Offices all over Pakistan visit the entire 515 tehsil and 133 districts on pre-advertised dates and venues to provide swift and hassle-free justice to the people closest to their doorsteps. Findings are issued within 25 days of the registration of complaints. "This new initiative was started as pilot project in January this year," he added.
He said the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat has approached the Council of Common Interests and Inter-Provincial Co-ordination Committee for approval of a proposal envisaging resolution of citizens under one roof, and under their respective laws, closest to the doorsteps of the complaints. "The proposal is awaiting approval," he added. In order to specially facilitate the business community, he said all businessmen can not only avail the instant, speedy and swift complaint resolution mechanisms, but can also approach the relevant chamber of commerce and industry for the purpose.
In this context, he said a MoU has recently been signed with Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Islamabad which also envisages resolution of the collective maladministration issue of the business community together with the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat.
Wafaqi Mohtasib and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) are jointly conducting a comprehensive study to identify issues of maladministration at the level of government agencies. Salman Faruqui further said that the main objective behind the said study is to give a boost to the trade and business activities in the country. In co-ordination with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Wafaqi Mohtasib is jointly conducting a comprehensive study in order to identify issues of maladministration at the level of government agencies.
"While the option for availing five-tier grievance redress mechanism is available to businessmen, a special dispensation for resolving their complaints has also been put in place whereby five designated grievance officers would be visiting the Chambers' Secretariat in all the provinces to listen the problems and provide speedy solution of their complaints," added the federal Ombudsman.
Faruqui apprised that it has been decided by the Federation and the Ombudsman Secretariat to conduct joint study/research for identifying systemic maladministration issues facing the FPCCI and make suitable and doable recommendations for their resolution. Salman Faruqui asked media to play its proactive role for creating awareness among masses in order to pass on the message of free and speedy justice to all and sundry.
President FPCCI Rauf Alam termed the occasion a moment of great pleasure for the whole business community as the appointment of exclusive grievance commissioners would not only help curtailing people's complaints but will also improve the confidence of business community.
He thanked Salman Faruqui for focusing on the issues of trade community and said that the community is playing its due role in uplifting the economic situation of the country. Chaudhry Rauf said that the Tax Mohtasib was also deciding complaints within a period of 45 days and since taking the charge of his office the number of resolved complaints has increased up to 70 per cent.
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