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ISLAMABAD, Oct 24 (APP): In a major step toward strengthening the rule of law and improving justice delivery in Balochistan, a high-level delegation of the province’s criminal justice leadership has completed a four-day study visit to Ireland to learn from the country’s integrated and data-driven justice system.
Organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Pakistan and facilitated by the Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI), the visit was supported by the European Union (EU) under its Deliver Justice Project. The initiative aimed to help Balochistan’s justice institutions enhance coordination, accountability, and performance management by drawing lessons from Ireland’s modern justice reforms.
The delegation, comprising senior representatives from the Balochistan High Court, Home Department, Police, Prosecution, Prisons, Reclamation and Probation, and Women Development Departments, visited Ireland from 20–23 October 2025.
During the tour, the delegates engaged with senior officials from An Garda Síochána (national police service), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Courts Service, the Legal Aid Board, and the Irish Prison and Probation Services. They also attended sessions at the Law Society of Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs to understand Ireland’s justice reforms and institutional coordination mechanisms.
Chief Justice Rozi Khan of the Balochistan High Court highlighted the importance of such international exchanges, saying: “This visit has provided valuable insight into how institutions can work together to deliver justice more effectively and transparently.”
Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, Government of Balochistan, said the visit offered valuable lessons in justice reform and governance.
“In our pursuit of effective governance, we can draw valuable lessons from Ireland’s remarkable reforms in rule of law and criminal justice. As a common law country, Ireland’s experiences can inform our efforts to build a more effective and citizen-centric justice system in Balochistan.”
Úna Kelly, First Secretary for the Rule of Law at the EU Delegation to Pakistan, emphasized the visit’s contribution to strengthening human rights and institutional collaboration.
“The study visit gave Balochistan’s senior justice officials an in-depth look at how Ireland integrates human rights across its criminal justice chain and how civil society contributes to safer, more equitable communities,” she said.
The visit reflects how international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and peer learning can help local institutions in Balochistan translate shared values of fairness, accountability, and integrity into tangible outcomes for citizens.
The €20 million Deliver Justice Project, funded by the European Union, supports reforms to promote people-centered justice and improve access for women and marginalized communities in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The project is jointly implemented by UNDP, UN Women, and UNODC.