Right to public services: Provision of public services made easier, says RPS chief

Says gaining access to even the basics was difficult

HARIPUR: Right to Public Services (RPS) Chief Commissioner Azmat Hanif Orakzai said it was essential to provide such facilities to the public in the shortest possible time. That was the reason the sitting government enacted the Right to Public Services Act,  2014 in K-P, said Orakzai.

He issued this statement when speaking to participants at an awareness seminar arranged jointly by the K-P RPS Commission and Haripur district administration at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Hall on Tuesday.



The RPS chief commissioner said gaining access to services related to public sector departments was a challenging task for citizens. He pointed out procedures to address minor complaints from police, civic agencies, educational institutions and other public sector departments were wrought with various complications, leading to the waste of time and resources.

Improving access

He claimed the PTI government was committed to bringing about changes in governance and the lives of the public. He said the introduction of the RPS act would simplify access to 15 services.

“At least now one can register FIRs or roznamcha reports at a police station without delay,” he said.

Orakzai added the process of issuing domicile, birth and death certificates was eased considerably along with other important documents.

About the violation of the RTS act, Orakzai explained the possible forums through which initial and final appeals against the delay in providing services could be filed.

He asked the audience to develop an understanding about the provisions of the act and services covered under it for their own advantage. The commissioner said greater public knowledge would not only help improve service delivery by government departments, but also save time and resources of the people.  Haripur DC Tasleem Khan and district nazim Adil Islam also spoke on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th,  2016.