Multan July 2025
In a significant step toward improving citizen grievance redressal and enhancing institutional coordination, OICOA Member and Pakistan’s Federal Ombudsperson for Harassment H.E. Fauzia Viqar visited the Regional Office of the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman) in Multan as part of her two-day awareness campaign across South Punjab. The visit aimed to strengthen ties between oversight bodies and promote a unified approach to handling public complaints more effectively and efficiently.
During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on how to strengthen coordination mechanisms between FOSPAH and the Wafaqi Mohtasib, with a shared aim of creating a more streamlined and citizen-friendly grievance resolution ecosystem. Topics included the integration of case management systems, referral protocols for gender-based complaints, and the establishment of joint outreach programmes targeting marginalized communities in rural and peri-urban areas. The two institutions also explored the standardization of complaint-handling procedures, as well as capacity-building opportunities for regional staff to ensure consistency in service delivery.
Ms. Viqar emphasized the importance of mutual data sharing (within legal boundaries) to identify overlapping grievances, avoid duplication, and ensure complainants receive timely relief. Discussions may have also touched upon training for frontline officers, strategies for cultural sensitivity in complaint intake, and opportunities to conduct joint awareness seminars at the grassroots level, particularly in districts where institutional presence is limited or public trust is low.
The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to good governance, improved access to redress for women and disadvantaged groups, and a collaborative vision for a more responsive and inclusive public accountability system in South Punjab. Ms. Viqar’s visit also underscored FOSPAH’s proactive approach to bridging institutional efforts, creating systemic linkages that elevate both the efficiency and visibility of ombudsman offices across Pakistan.
