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The Ombudsman of Punjab hosted a meeting introducing its Helpline 1050 to distinguished guests
Following the successful conclusion of the IOI Asian Regional Meeting and International Conference 2025 in Lahore, the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab had the honour of hosting distinguished delegates from Azerbaijan, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, and Indonesia at its Head Office in Lahore, Pakistan. The visit reflected the shared commitment of Ombudsman institutions to deepen cooperation, exchange expertise, and strengthen citizen-service mechanisms worldwide.
During the visit, the delegates were introduced to the 24/7 Helpline 1050, a flagship initiative of the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab aimed at ensuring accessible, transparent, and efficient grievance redressal for citizens across Pakistan. The helpline operates as a PRI-linked, in-house call center integrated with the Ombudsman Punjab Management Information System (OPMIS)—a centralized digital platform for real-time complaint registration, monitoring, and follow-up.
Mr. Sami Ullah, Advisor (F&P)/(ITID), delivered a comprehensive briefing on the working of the helpline. He highlighted how the helpline has become an essential bridge between citizens and public administration, with over 800 calls registered in September 2025 alone.
The visiting Ombudsmen and their teams expressed keen interest in adopting similar systems within their own offices, recognizing the model’s potential to improve accessibility and administrative accountability. The session concluded with an interactive discussion on best practices and collaborative opportunities under the IOI framework.
This engagement not only reinforced the Ombudsman Punjab’s leadership in promoting institutional innovation and citizen-centered service delivery but also exemplified the broader IOI vision of enhancing accountability, transparency, and good governance through mutual learning and collaboration among Ombudsman institutions worldwide.
Source: Office of the Provincial Ombudsman Punjab, Pakistan
