Unfulfilled promises: Ombudsman takes notice of non-payment of cash prize

The applicant had won an essay competition in 2012

LAHORE: Punjab Ombudsman Javed Mahmood on Tuesday took notice of an appeal by a girl student who said she had not received the cash prize she was promised after winning an essay writing competition held by the government three years ago.

Javed Mehmood directed the education secretary, the Kasur DCO and the Kasur education EDO to probe the matter and submit a report in 15 days.

Kiran Mukhtar, 17, a resident of Talvandi village of Chunian, said she had won the competition during the Youth Festival in 2012. She said she had been promised the prize after she secured the first position. “I was in grade 8 at that time. I have now passed matriculation and still not received the prize.”

“I come from a humble background. To take part in the competition, I had borne travel, boarding and food expenses,” Mukhtar said. She said the money could help her pay college dues.

“The payment to Miss Mukhtar will be ensured at the earliest,” Abid Noor Bhatti, the public relations officer to Mehmood, quoted the ombudsman as saying. “Action will be taken against those responsible for the delay.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2015.