PESHAWAR, September 15: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved a Rs200 million project to modernise the Provincial Ombudsperson Secretariat, aiming to strengthen women’s access to justice and improve the handling of workplace harassment and property rights cases across the province.
The PC-I for the “Institutional Strengthening and Digital Transformation of the Provincial Ombudsperson Secretariat (Khatoon Mohtasib)” has been approved under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2026-27, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
Under the project, the Secretariat will introduce digital case management and strengthen data-driven governance while improving institutional capacity and public access to its services.
Officials said the digital transformation is designed to make the Ombudsperson system more transparent, responsive and accountable, while improving efficiency in the processing and management of complaints.
The initiative is also expected to make it easier for women to access the institution and seek legal protection under laws dealing with harassment at the workplace and women’s property rights.
The provincial government said the project forms part of its broader efforts to protect women’s rights, uphold their dignity and strengthen access to justice in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Muhammad Abbas Khan, Principal Advisor to the Provincial Ombudsperson Secretariat, described the Rs200 million allocation as more than a conventional development scheme.
He said the project represented a strategic investment in strengthening the institutional framework responsible for protecting women’s rights and facilitating their access to justice.
According to Khan, modernising the Secretariat would help establish a more accessible and accountable system capable of providing stronger protection to women and supporting their empowerment across the province.
The planned digital case-management system is expected to improve the Secretariat’s ability to manage complaints and institutional data while making its services more responsive to people seeking assistance.
The project combines technology upgrades with institutional capacity building, placing greater emphasis on accessibility, transparency and effective enforcement of legal protections available to women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.