Extending the Outreach of Ombudsman Punjab: A Case of Bahawalpur Division

Abstract

Punjab ombudsman came into existence on September 30, 1996 via a regulation. Initially, this regulation was monitored by two additional regulations and lastly on June 30, 1997, the Punjab Office of the Ombudsman Act, 1997 (Act X of 1997) was disseminated. Throughout the 23 years of its instituting a huge figure of grievances have been acknowledged by Punjab ombudsman which persisted extremely convoluted in rectifying objections of the pursuers and providing assistance to community exaggerated by inefficient administration in the government sector of Punjab. Primarily, tenancy of the position of the Ombudsman was three years. However, in 2003, the tenancy was enriched from 3 years to 4 years after modification in Section 4 of the Punjab Office of the Ombudsman Act, 1997. The aim of the study is to evaluate the general performance of the ombudsman in the light of responsibilities allocated to him. Current research is comprised of data collected from Bahawalpur division. 60 grievances of the division of the Bahawalpur (ombudsman office) are taken as a population. Self-administered questionnaire is used as a research tool to know the views of respondents regarding performance of ombudsman offices in Bahawalpur division. Nature of research design is qualitative. Source of data collection is primary as well as secondary. It took about one month to collect data.  In order to examine the relation between dependent and independent variables with SPSS software, regression and correlation model is used as a data analysis tool. It is concluded that citizens from distant regions face intricacy in order to approach the Punjab Ombudsman in the nonexistence of offices in district. In order to expand the service delivery of Punjab Ombudsman down to grass root level, such sorts of plan are started. After a far-reaching counseling procedure of Mohtasib Punjab with the stakeholders, it was anticipated that the District offices of Mohtasib Punjab should be recognized in every District of Punjab in the beginning, and afterward to tehsil level.