ISLAMABAD (APP): Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar said that on the initiative of federal ombudsman all Pakistani ambassadors around the world have started listening complaints of Overseas Pakistanis (OPs) in their respective embassies on weekly basis without any prior appointment and resolving the issues.
Talking to APP, he said the ambassadors are submitting regular progress reports including reporting of issues of overseas Pakistanis for their resolutions to federal ombudsman secretariat.
He said that it had also been decided to hear complaints of overseas Pakistanis through video link and Skype from those countries first where Pakistan Community welfare Attaches (CWAs) would be available.
The countries where federal ombudsman secretariat will start listening complaints will include Saudi Arab, Italy, Masqat, UAE,UK, Korea.
Hafiz Ahsaan who is also Senior Advisor to Federal Ombudsman said that instructions for implementation of directions of the ombudsman had been issued to Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and Overseas Pakistanis Foundation and the matter had been fixed in the next week for taking up the matter further.
He also said that further directions have been issued to Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and others attached departments to make arrangements in the next two months for the celebration of One Day in a year as Overseas Pakistanis Day on 18th December every year to recognize the contribution of 8.1 million Overseas Pakistanis living in 218countries and regions.
He said that awareness campaign for resolution of overseas Pakistanis would be launched very soon with the collaboration of the ministry of information. Newly appointed information officers to different countries have been asked for attending a briefing in the next week to be held at federal Ombudsman secretariat .
Hafiz Ahsaan said for swift resolution of overseas complaints a total eight one window facilitation desks have been established with the officials of 12 relevant federal government agencies at Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshwar, Quetta, Multan, Sialkot and Faislabad airports and more than 320,000 passengers and overseas Pakistanis visited these desks.
He also appreciated efforts made by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and its attached department and Foreign Office for implementing initiatives taken by the Ombudsman.