ISLAMABAD, Dec 26 (APP): The Chief Justice of Pakistan, in his capacity as Chairman of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), chaired a high-level meeting in Peshawar to review and accelerate initiatives aimed at strengthening judicial infrastructure and improving public facilitation in underserved and remote districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to a press note released here Friday evening, the meeting was attended by the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, the Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Secretaries of Finance, Planning and Development, and Law of the provincial government, along with the Secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.
Expressing serious concern over inadequate judicial infrastructure in far-flung areas, the Chief Justice of Pakistan stressed the need for targeted, citizen-centric interventions to bridge regional disparities in access to justice. He underscored that future judicial facilities must go beyond traditional courtrooms and include modern facilitation centres, with particular emphasis on gender-responsive and women-friendly infrastructure.
The forum was briefed on nationwide initiatives being implemented under the Access to Justice Development Fund (AJDF), administered by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan. It was informed that bar rooms within judicial complexes have formally been included as beneficiaries of core interventions, including solar energy systems, e-libraries, water filtration plants, and women-centric facilities identified through stakeholder consultations.
Regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the meeting was told that province-wide coverage under these initiatives would require an estimated Rs. 688 million. Of this, the Law and Justice Commission has already allocated Rs. 390 million from the AJDF and Grant-in-Aid, while the remaining amount will be met through provincial funding.
The Peshawar High Court undertook to execute women-centric components from its own resources, while the Chief Secretary assured the provision of funds for the remaining facilities.
The meeting was also briefed on the concept of “Sukh da Vehra,” a one-window integrated family and women facilitation centre proposed to be established within or near judicial complexes.
The Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court informed the forum about the establishment of Family Court Blocks at Peshawar and Swat and proposed replication of similar facilities, to be titled “Da Sar Soury,” at divisional headquarters. The Chief Justice of Pakistan approved piloting the initiative in two divisions, for which the provincial government committed financial support.
Additionally, the forum discussed the use of video-link facilities for district administration officers in sensitive and hard-to-reach areas. Directions were issued to ensure the immediate availability of such facilities wherever required.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the joint commitment of the judiciary and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to strengthen judicial infrastructure, enhance public facilitation, and ensure equitable access to justice across the province, in line with constitutional guarantees and national policy objectives.