In a significant move to overhaul the country’s legal framework and bolster public confidence, the judiciary has successfully completed 36 key initiatives under a comprehensive reform plan, with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi emphasizing that sustained, measurable progress is vital for strengthening trust in the judicial system.
The advancements were evaluated during the eighth interactive progress review session on the Reform Action Plan (RAP) at the Supreme Court on Thursday. Justice Afridi, who presided over the meeting, was briefed that in addition to the concluded projects, 45 remain under implementation while another 13 are scheduled to begin soon.
The session, attended by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, Chairman of the National Judicial Automation Committee, and other senior officials, reviewed a total of 86 initiatives. The Chief Justice described the developments as reflective of the judiciary’s firm commitment to modernization, efficiency, and improved public service delivery.
A major highlight was the remarkable progress in digitization, with officials reporting that over 126,000 court records have been digitized, vastly surpassing the initial target of 61,900. During the session, Justice Afridi also initiated the standardization and quality assurance process for the newly digitized records.
Further discussions covered advancements in judicial automation, including software enhancements and the introduction of QR-coded certified copies. Preparations for a nationwide E-Courts project are also advancing, with plans to develop a master plan for the end-to-end digitization of courts from the district to the apex level.
The Chief Justice received a detailed briefing on public facilitation measures, expressing satisfaction with improvements in call and complaint-handling systems and proactive feedback mechanisms. Updates were also provided on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) efforts, performance audits, and security assessments.
Stressing the importance of transparency, Justice Afridi stated that financial discipline and regular audits are essential for accountable judicial governance. He directed all departments to accelerate pending tasks before the next review, reiterating that timely adjudication is both a constitutional duty and a moral obligation.
In his concluding remarks, the Chief Justice commended the officers and technical teams for their contributions, reaffirming the judiciary’s dedication to fostering innovation and collaboration to build an equitable justice system.