PM vows nationwide rollout of Asan Khidmat Markaz,

Asan Khidmat Markaz:

ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 (APP):Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the federal government was committed to transforming Pakistan’s public service delivery ecosystem by providing government services under one roof through a network of Asan Khidmat Markaz across the country.

The prime minister made these remarks during a meeting with an Azerbaijani delegation that visited Islamabad to attend the inauguration ceremony of the capital’s first Asan Khidmat Markaz. The delegation was led by Chairman of Azerbaijan’s Public Service and Social Innovations Agency, Alvi Mehdiyev, and included Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani government for their full support in establishing Pakistan’s first Asan Khidmat Markaz in Islamabad and termed it a milestone in public sector reform. He said Pakistan was striving to fundamentally overhaul the governance and service delivery system to make it efficient, transparent and citizen-friendly.

The prime minister said Asan Khidmat Markaz would be expanded nationwide, with the next phase covering Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. He directed the relevant authorities to begin work immediately by setting clear timelines for establishing centres in Gilgit and Muzaffarabad, followed by their rollout across the rest of the country.

The prime minister said services at the centres would be provided in line with international standards, adding that comprehensive planning was required to ensure the effective delivery of a wide range of government services at a single location. He stressed that measurable performance targets would be set for all centres and that quarterly third-party performance audits, in addition to internal audits, would be conducted to ensure transparency and accountability.

PM Sharif also directed to facilitate overseas Pakistanis through dedicated Asan Khidmat Markaz counters be established at Pakistani missions abroad.

Welcoming the visit of the Azerbaijani delegation and Chairman Alvi Mehdiyev, the prime minister appreciated Azerbaijan’s continued cooperation, noting that the Azerbaijani government had also assured support for setting up Asan Khidmat Markaz across Pakistan. He was briefed during the meeting on the recently established centre in Sector G-9, Islamabad, and informed that it would be expanded in the near future to further enhance citizen facilitation.

The Azerbaijani delegation praised PM Sharif’s efforts to introduce reforms and innovation in governance, recalling his role in administrative reforms during his tenure as chief minister of Punjab. The Azerbaijani ambassador also informed the meeting that, in addition to three weekly flights between Islamabad and Azerbaijan, one more flight would be added from March, a move welcomed by the prime minister as a step towards further strengthening bilateral ties.

Federal ministers Ahsan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and Shaza Fatima Khawaja, along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, were also present.

PM hails Azerbaijan President’s extraordinary support amid inaugurating Pakistan’s first Asan Khidmat Markaz

ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 (APP):Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday extending his gratitude to the President of Azerbaijan for his extraordinary support in establishing Pakistan’s first Asan Khidmat Markaz being inaugurated here amid describing it as a key intervention towards citizen-centric governance, improved public service delivery and ease of doing business.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony after touring the facility, the prime minister thanked Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in establishing the centre modelled on Azerbaijan’s internationally acclaimed public service system. He said the initiative would not have been possible without Azerbaijan’s cooperation and guidance.
Prime Minister also acknowledged the role of the Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations (SAPSSI) of Azerbaijan, the Pakistani ambassador, and other stakeholders for their unwavering support. He lauded the minister and secretary of information technology, along with allied departments, for their collective efforts in operationalising the centre.
PM Sharif underlined that the Asan Khidmat Markaz got multiple public services under one roof, including those of Nadra, the Foreign Office, Police department, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other departments, aimed at facilitating citizens and businesses through efficient, transparent and courteous service delivery.
He noted that the staff deployed at the centre had received specialised training in Azerbaijan from master trainers, and stressed that courtesy, professionalism and a welcoming demeanour must be the hallmark of public service. “Your behaviour should inspire the people who come here and raise the overall quality of services,” he told the staff.
The prime minister mentioned that he was deeply impressed by the efficiency and responsiveness of Azerbaijan’s public service institutions during his visit to SAPSSI Centre in Baku, and upon returning to Pakistan had directed to replicate the similar system. “There is a clear lesson in public service, one must remain ready at all times to serve the people,” he said.
The prime minister directed Federal Minister Ahad Cheema, in coordination with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), to further expand the facility and ensure its swift replication. He also ordered the immediate establishment of Asan Khidmat Markaz centres in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as a gift from the federal government to the people and administrations of the two regions.
PM Sharif said the model would eventually be replicated across the country, adding that Azerbaijan’s support had been instrumental in making this possible. He expressed special appreciation for the visiting SAPSSI chairman and his delegation, terming their contribution commendable.
“Your smile, alertness and dedication to service will not only earn you success in this world but also in the hereafter,” the prime minister remarked, urging officials to ensure that the centre fully benefits the public and strengthens trust in state institutions.