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ISLAMABAD ( WNAM MONITORING):Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday extending his gratitude to the President of Azerbaijan for his extraordinary support in establishing Pakistan’s first Asan Khidmat Markaz being inaugurated here amid describing it as a key intervention towards citizen-centric governance, improved public service delivery and ease of doing business.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony after touring the facility, the prime minister thanked Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in establishing the centre modelled on Azerbaijan’s internationally acclaimed public service system. He said the initiative would not have been possible without Azerbaijan’s cooperation and guidance.
Prime Minister also acknowledged the role of the Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations (SAPSSI) of Azerbaijan, the Pakistani ambassador, and other stakeholders for their unwavering support. He lauded the minister and secretary of information technology, along with allied departments, for their collective efforts in operationalising the centre.
PM Sharif underlined that the Asan Khidmat Markaz got multiple public services under one roof, including those of Nadra, the Foreign Office, Police department, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other departments, aimed at facilitating citizens and businesses through efficient, transparent and courteous service delivery.
He noted that the staff deployed at the centre had received specialised training in Azerbaijan from master trainers, and stressed that courtesy, professionalism and a welcoming demeanour must be the hallmark of public service. “Your behaviour should inspire the people who come here and raise the overall quality of services,” he told the staff.
The prime minister mentioned that he was deeply impressed by the efficiency and responsiveness of Azerbaijan’s public service institutions during his visit to SAPSSI Centre in Baku, and upon returning to Pakistan had directed to replicate the similar system. “There is a clear lesson in public service, one must remain ready at all times to serve the people,” he said.
The prime minister directed Federal Minister Ahad Cheema, in coordination with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), to further expand the facility and ensure its swift replication. He also ordered the immediate establishment of Asan Khidmat Markaz centres in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as a gift from the federal government to the people and administrations of the two regions.
PM Sharif said the model would eventually be replicated across the country, adding that Azerbaijan’s support had been instrumental in making this possible.
Prime Minister Sharif expressed gratitude to President Aliyev for supporting the introduction of the ASAN Service model in Pakistan, describing ASAN Khidmat as a progressive and innovative approach to public service that will be broadly applied across the country.
Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Security Anar Bayramov and Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov also attended the ceremony.
