ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPORT): Owing to persistent efforts for speedy resolution of public complaints, the Institution of Wafaqi Mohtasib has emerged as the poor man’s court, enjoying the trust and confidence of the general public.
This was stated by the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman), Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi while talking to a 17-member delegation from the Tax Ombudsman Service of Tanzania (TOST), headed by Mr. Erasmus Vincent Mtui, which called on him at the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat here today.
He said that it has processed and decided a record number of 261,101 complaints during the outgoing year 2025, as against 223,198 cases decided in 2024. This increase in the number of complaints decided has been attributed to initiatives like the Khuli Katcheries (Open Courts), Outreach Complaint Resolution (OCR) mechanism, the Informal Resolution of Disputes (IRD) and Inspection Visits of government agencies and departments. It has achieved an unprecedented implementation rate of 96.8% during the year, he maintained.
Mr. Qureshi further informed that with a view to enhancing outreach and accessibility, a number of new Regional Offices and Complaint Collection Centres (CCC) have been established during the last two years mostly in the remote and far off regions of the country. Now the institution has presence in 28 cities across the country, which is instrumental in dispensing administrative justice virtually at the doorsteps of the people. He particularly called for exchange of experiences and best practices between the two institutions in areas of public sector accountability and institutional capacity building.
Later, the delegation was given a detailed presentation on the Federal Ombudsman’s mandate, operational modalities, role and functions, particularly the mechanism for receipt and disposal of public complaints. It was followed by a lively Question/Answer session.
The leader of the Tanzanian delegation commended the outstanding performance of the Wafaqi Mohtasib’s Institution, saying that it is rendering very useful service to the people. He emphasised the need to establish closer professional linkages between the Wafaqi Mohtasib’s Institution and Tax Ombudsman of Tanzania to their mutual advantage.
The delegation also visited the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA)’s Secretariat located in the Wafaqi Mohtasib’s Office premises, wherein it was briefed on its history and evolution alongwith Pakistan’s pioneering role in the establishment of the Association. It was informed that the country currently holds its Presidentship and playing an active role in carrying out its mandated functions and activities.
