ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP), through circulars and orders issued between October 26, 2024 and August 12, 2025, announced a series of new facilities and regulations for judges.
According to these documents, the Chief Justice of Pakistan has been empowered to approve, revoke or curtail the domestic and foreign leave of judges, while significant changes have also been introduced regarding the use of official vehicles, accommodation in rest houses and police protocol.
Under the amended rules, judges’ private foreign visits will now only be permitted during summer and winter vacation. The Chief Justice has also been granted the authority to cancel or restrict any judge’s already approved leave.
A policy issued on January 9, 2025 provides that the Supreme Court will appoint a focal person to assist in the burial arrangements of a deceased former judge, and that the Chief Justice and other judges will place a floral wreath on the grave.
On February 22, 2025, a new early-hearing policy came into force, giving priority to bail matters, family disputes and election-related cases. Under this framework, lawyers will no longer need to submit applications for urgent hearing in immediate matters, while in other cases, specific reasons must be provided with any request for expedited hearing.
On March 6, 2025, the Supreme Court revised its per-kilometre charges for private use of official vehicles. The new rates increased motorcycle charges from Rs6 to Rs9 per km; cars and jeeps from Rs12 to Rs18; vans and station wagons from Rs16 to Rs24; non-AC coasters from Rs32 to Rs48; and AC coasters from Rs48 to Rs72 per km.
On May 17, 2025, the court established a new Purchase and Maintenance Committee to oversee the upkeep of Supreme Court buildings, judges’ residences, and guest houses. The committee has been authorised to recommend minor repair works up to Rs500,000.
On May 19, 2025, the court introduced changes to the judgment upload policy, deciding that minority opinions would also be published alongside majority judgments on the website. On the same day, strict SOPs were issued for the Supreme Court’s daycare centre, allowing admission only for children up to the age of four.
On May 22, 2025, new regulations were introduced for university delegations visiting the Supreme Court. Only final-year or penultimate-year students will be permitted, and all students will be required to observe a prescribed dress code.
On July 7, 2025, fresh SOPs were issued regarding judges’ protocol and facilities. Protocol staff were instructed to remain available round-the-clock. Judges and their families are to be provided with travel, accommodation and medical facilities. Judges will also receive assistance in obtaining club and clinic memberships, necessary documentation and priority handling of matters related to Nadra, passports and the CDA.
On the same day, new rules for guest house reservations were announced, giving priority to judges and their families, while limiting the stay of private visitors to a maximum of four days.
A notification issued on June 17, 2025 authorised each judge to use two official vehicles of up to 1800cc capacity — a primary car and a family car. The government will bear the cost of fuel and maintenance for both the vehicles. Each judge will also be entitled to two drivers, one security escort vehicle, and a trained gunman provided by Islamabad or provincial police. In urgent cases, a third car may also be approved by the Registrar.
A new vehicle policy for retired judges was also announced. Under this, a retired judge may retain his primary car for one month after retirement and may purchase the used car at a depreciated rate. Retired judges will also be entitled to complimentary airport pick-and-drop services, and if they had not purchased their primary car earlier, they may buy a new one at a depreciated price. Subject to availability, retired judges may also request a government vehicle in Islamabad or provincial capitals.
Finally, an amendment dated July 29, 2025 reconfirmed that judges’ private foreign visits would only be permissible during summer and winter vacation, with the Chief Justice retaining full authority to cancel or curtail any previously sanctioned.