ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi directed the concerned authorities to prioritise clean drinking water, uninterrupted power supply and women-centric facilities in courts across remote and underserved districts, drawing on the Access to Justice Development Fund, as bar delegations from six cities raised infrastructure concerns at the Supreme Court on Monday.
As part of ongoing stakeholder engagement, delegations from the District Bar Associations of Multan, Khanewal, Bahawalpur and Sargodha, and the High Court Bar Associations of Bannu and Bahawalpur, called on the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan at the Supreme Court.
The delegations apprised the Chief Justice of issues relating to bar facilities, court infrastructure, digital connectivity and professional development of the legal fraternity. Discussions covered the provision of clean drinking water, solarization of court complexes, Women Facilitation Centres, bar rooms, plantation drives, internet connectivity, video-link and e-filing facilities, as well as the establishment of e-libraries and training opportunities for lawyers.
Engaging the delegations on ongoing judicial reforms, the Chief Justice highlighted initiatives undertaken by the Supreme Court and the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) to improve access to justice and enhance the efficiency and quality of judicial service delivery. Particular emphasis was placed on the provision of uninterrupted power supply, women-centric facilities, e-libraries and clean drinking water through the Access to Justice Development Fund.
The Chief Justice underscored the importance of extending and strengthening these facilities, particularly in remote and underserved areas, and directed concerned officers to coordinate with the relevant authorities to address the issues raised by the bar delegations. He also directed that liaison be maintained with the Forest Department for the plantation drive.
The Chief Justice assured the bar representatives that their concerns would be carefully examined and addressed through coordinated institutional efforts. He reiterated that the bar remains an important stakeholder in the justice system, stressing that effective and efficient dispensation of justice requires continued cooperation and constructive engagement between the bench and the bar.
