Liaison officers to be deputed at high courts

In a momentum towards reforming the justice sector, a high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to review and enhance institutional linkages between bar associations and the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

According to a press release issued on Friday, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi shared insights from his recent visits to some of the most remote districts in all provinces, where he assessed the state of judicial infrastructure and identified key challenges.

Despite the availability of development funds, he observed that inadequate coordination among institutions has hindered effective implementation.

He emphasized the need to include bar associations in judicial development efforts, especially those linked to judicial complexes.

To bridge the coordination gap, the commission has decided to post senior-level representatives in every province. These officers will be based in the high courts and serve as liaisons with district bar associations.

Their duties include raising awareness of justice sector initiatives, identifying local priorities, and supervising grassroots reforms.

Bar Associations will also be invited to submit development proposals for consideration by the relevant District Development Committees headed by the D&SJ.

Representatives from federal and provincial departments are now part of the process to accelerate execution and prevent resource duplication.

Highlighting the importance of synergy, the chair urged bar representatives to engage their members proactively and stay involved in these reform efforts.

He directed that all government-provided support to Bar Associations be streamlined and properly structured to maximize impact and cost-effectiveness.

He also called on provincial line departments to remain actively engaged with designated officers to ensure timely implementation of projects proposed by the District Committees.