Governor directs officers of sectors to improve public service delivery

QUETTA, Oct 09 (APP): Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail has directed heads of government departments to take concrete measures to improve public service delivery, ensure transparency in administrative affairs, uphold merit in recruitment and promotions, and eliminate corruption and irregularities from the government system.

He issued these directives during the weekly hearing of petitions and complaints against various government departments at the Governor House in Quetta, where the Provincial Ombudsman reviewed grievances brought forward by citizens seeking relief from administrative shortcomings and alleged injustices.

The governor emphasized that timely and fair delivery of justice was essential to strengthening public trust and enhancing the credibility of state institutions. He said resolving a genuine complaint in accordance with merit and fairness not only provided relief to the aggrieved individual but also reinforced public confidence in government institutions.

Mandokhail stressed the need to make the office of the Provincial Ombudsman more active and effective to ensure affordable, prompt and accessible justice for citizens. He said the performance of government institutions should be assessed primarily by their ability to resolve public issues without unnecessary delays and protect the legitimate rights of the people.

Highlighting the difficulties faced by poor and underprivileged communities, the governor observed that delays in justice often compounded their suffering, leaving them burdened with financial hardship, mental distress and prolonged administrative or legal proceedings. He noted that many citizens could not afford expensive legal representation or bear the costs associated with lengthy court cases, making timely redressal particularly important for vulnerable sections of society.

He urged the Provincial Ombudsman to streamline the procedures for registering, scrutinizing and deciding complaints so that ordinary citizens could obtain relief without becoming entangled in complicated and costly processes. He emphasized that providing justice to disadvantaged people was a fundamental responsibility of the state and required an accessible system capable of addressing grievances efficiently.

The governor also directed the heads of government departments and institutions to prioritize the resolution of legitimate public complaints and establish effective mechanisms to protect citizens from bureaucratic hurdles, complex procedures and avoidable delays. He stressed that greater accountability and administrative efficiency were necessary to ensure that public institutions served the people in a transparent and equitable manner.

Explaining the purpose of the weekly complaint hearings conducted through the Governor House’s complaint cell, Mandokhail said the process functioned as a quasi-judicial forum, commonly referred to as a “Quasi-Court.” He said the mechanism was intended to examine complaints, facilitate their resolution under the relevant laws and regulations, and provide meaningful relief to citizens facing administrative grievances.

On the occasion, the governor appreciated the efforts of the Governor House team in addressing public complaints, particularly acknowledging Additional Secretary (Governor Secretariat) Abdul Ghafoor Kakar for his role in handling grievances and facilitating the resolution process. He reiterated the importance of strengthening complaint-redressal mechanisms to make government institutions more responsive, transparent and accountable to the public.