ISLAMABAD: The Federal Ombudsman’s office has decided complaints filed by 152,000 Pakistanis living abroad over the past two years and at present there is no complaint pending a decision. Moreover, it has been decided that the video link facility will be provided to overseas Pakistanis for hearing their complaints.

It was stated by Grievance Commissioner Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar while giving a briefing to the representatives of 32 government departments at the office of the ombudsman on Wednesday.

Mr Khokhar said that almost 7.5 million Pakistanis were living in 124 countries. Keeping in view the large number, overseas Pakistanis’ focal persons have been appointed in 92 Pakistani embassies for services, complaints’ resolution and welfare of overseas Pakistanis.

“Most of the complaints are received through emails or news items published in print media are taken up with relevant authorities such as National Database and Registration Authority, D.G. Passport, Federal Investigation Agency, Overseas Pakistanis Foun­dation, Pakistan Inter­nat­ional Airlines, Customs and Civil Aviation Authority,” he said.

Mr Khokhar said the Foreign Office had been asked to make arrangements for hearing of complaints through video links in the Federal Ombudsman’s Secretariat with the Pakistan Missions where concentration of Pakistanis was higher such as the US, UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015

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