(From Overleaf)

28. Reference para 25/N

29. Besides Head Office of Ombudsman at Lahore, there are 36

Regional Offices situated at each District Headquarter of Punjab Province. The
complete list of 36 Regional Offices of Provincial Ombudsman Punjab is at
Flag-A. These Regional Offices are headed by Advisors/Consultants, which are
competent to receive complaints from the Complainants and complete
proceedings on behalf of the Hon’ble Ombudsman Punjab and submit the case
for final decision by the Ombudsman. During the course of the proceedings,
complainant is not required to attend Head Office at Lahore.

30. In this regard, Section 19 of The Punjab Office of the Ombudsman

Punjab Act 1997 deals with “Delegation of Powers”, which is as under:

“The Ombudsman may, by order in writing, delegate such of his

powers as may be specified in the order, to any member of his staff or
to a Standing or Advisory Committee, to be exercised subject to such
conditions as may be specified and every report of such member or
committee shall first be submitted to the Ombudsman with his or its
recommendations for appropriate action”.
Whereas Section 20 of the Act ibid empowers the Ombudsman for
“Appointment of Advisers---The Ombudsman may appoint competent persons
of integrity as Advisors, Consultant, Fellows, Bailiffs, Interns, Commissioners and
Experts as well as ministerial staff with or without remuneration to assist him in
the discharge of his duties under the Act”.

Section 14 of the Act ibid enunciates about the Powers of the

Ombudsman. Section 14 (3) states that “ The powers referred to in
subsection(1) may be exercised by the Ombudsman or any person authorized in
writing by the Ombudsman in this behalf while carrying out an inspection or
investigation under the provisions of the Act”.

31. It is necessary to note that Ombudsman Punjab has launched a

system of E-Complaints as well as MobileApp for general public to launch
complaints from his/her house even without visiting the Regional Office.

32. In view of the preceding para, there is no logic or rationale for

further delegating the Office of Ombudsman. Therefore, keeping in view para
22/N and Para 28/N, the proposal contained in Para 23/ante may be considered
for approval.

Deputy Secretary (Omb)

Additional Secretary (Coord.)

33.