Rule of law: Rs2.3 billion allocated for judiciary

LAHORE: The government has allocated Rs2.3 billion for the judiciary in the 2015-16 budget announced on Friday.

According to budget documents, the amount will be spent on improving courts’ infrastructure and facilitating litigants. Rs460 million has been allocated for the construction of court buildings, Rs300 million for the construction of residences of judicial officers, Rs30 million for the construction of a judicial complex (phase-II) in Lahore, Rs20 million for addition and alteration in the Lahore High Court building and Rs376 million for the construction of a court record room, a committee room, a toilets block and additional rooms at Model Town courts.

Rs20 million has been allocated for improving security on court premises across the province. Rs39.83 million has been reserved for the construction of a judicial complex in Pattoki, Kasur. Rs76 millions will be spent on the establishment of family and guardian courts complexes in every district in the province.

The government has allocated Rs2.2 billion for 67 ongoing schemes and Rs94.18 million for nine new schemes. The construction of judicial complexes in Multan, Shahkot, Nankana Sahib and Sangla Hill and residences for judicial officers in Kehror Lal Eisan, Layyah, will also be carried out this year.

Residential buildings will be provided to calss-IV staff assisting Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench judges. An underground parking lot will be built at the GPO gate of Lahore High Court. Under the head of new schemes, Rs15 million has been allocated for the conversion of half of Lahore High Court’s Record Room into a cafeteria and Rs15 million for the installation of air conditioners.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2015.