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Ms. Ayesha Hamid (Ombudsman Punjab) and Mr. Kaiser Saleem (Secretary) along with participants of the International Internship Programme 2026
The Office of the Ombudsman Punjab hosted the fifth batch of the International Internship Programme 2026 from 7–11 September 2026, welcoming a delegation from the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The delegation comprised Mr. Sabuhi Abbasov, Head of the Ombudsman’s Western Regional Center, and Mr. Elvin Hajiyev, Senior Adviser of the Department on Protection of the Right to Access Information.
The five-day programme was designed to provide practical insight into the institutional framework, complaint management systems and citizen outreach mechanisms of the Ombudsman Punjab. It commenced with an orientation on the Ombudsman Act, 1997, followed by an in-depth briefing on the Office’s ISO 9001:2015 Certified Quality Management System and Complaint Management Information System, including a visit to the IT Wing.
The delegation also explored the Office’s Helpline 1050, media strategy, social media and public awareness campaigns, alongside a Research & Development Wing workshop featuring a comparative analysis between the Ombudsman Punjab and the participants’ home institution.
A key element of the internship was field-based learning. The participants observed the Awami Khidmat Programme Mobile Outreach Van operating in remote areas of Rawalpindi and interacted with local complainants. They subsequently visited the Regional Office Attock, where they received an orientation on regional operations and observed live hearings with the Advisor.
The programme concluded at the Head Office with presentations by the interns on their findings, recommendations and learning experience, followed by a certification ceremony addressed by Ms. Ayesha Hamid, Ombudsman Punjab, and Mr. Kaiser Saleem, Secretary. The programme also included cultural engagement through visits to Lahore’s historic landmarks and the Wagah Border flag-lowering ceremony.
The fifth batch further strengthened the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab’s growing network of international institutional partnerships, providing a platform for comparative learning, exchange of practices and continued cooperation between ombudsman institutions.
Source: The Office of the Ombudsman of the Province of Punjab, Pakistan
