Justice in Pakistan is too often defined by the judgments of higher courts. For the ordinary citizen, however, justice is what they experience in a district courtroom, in a tehsil katcheri, or while waiting endlessly for a case to be called.
That experience has too often meant delays, inconvenience and a sense of distance from the institution. To change this, the judiciary has begun to chart a new direction – one rooted in judicial outreach, user-centric design and shared ownership with the lower courts.
A major step forward is the appointment of Resident Additional Secretaries by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), stationed in every province at the high courts. Their task is not to add bureaucracy but to serve as a bridge – linking judges, bar associations and the public, while steering development under the Access to Justice Fund. Crucially, reforms are now shaped from the ground up, with each tehsil identifying its own priorities rather than being handed one-size-fits-all projects from Islamabad.
This bottom-up model avoids duplication of existing government spending and ensures resources reach where they are most needed. It also gives ownership to the lower-tier courts that carry the heaviest burden but have long been left behind. By giving them both a voice and the means to act, the district courts are being empowered to deliver justice more effectively and independently.
This shift reflects a broader principle: the justice system exists to serve the citizens, not the convenience of judges or lawyers. A user-centric court is therefore vital to building trust. This requires accessible facilities, transparent processes, fair procedures and, above all, active communication with citizens.
Public outreach must now be treated as a central responsibility rather than a side effort. Public trust, once lost, is extremely difficult to restore. In an age of disinformation and frustration, silence only deepens the gap between citizens and courts.
Outreach must explain reforms in plain language and actively engage those most affected: women and marginalised litigants, young lawyers with limited resources, rural communities that feel excluded and citizens enduring painfully slow cases. Outreach must be a two-way conversation – courts informing, but also listening, adapting, and responding. Only in this way can the judiciary close the service delivery gap, strengthen legitimacy and rebuild public confidence on which sustainable justice ultimately depends.
These reforms breathe life into Article 37(d), which promises inexpensive and expeditious justice. For decades, that promise has remained more aspiration than reality. But by embedding outreach officers, empowering local courts, and adopting a user-centric philosophy, the judiciary is taking practical steps to honour it.
These reforms also align Pakistan’s justice sector with the global development agenda. Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) calls for systems that are accessible, accountable, and resilient. Strong institutions are not built on slogans but on steady effort, responsiveness and accountability. Judicial outreach and decentralized reform bring Pakistan closer to this international benchmark while directly benefiting its citizens.
It is important to see this not merely as an initiative but as the beginning of a cultural change. For the first time, district courts are being entrusted to identify their own needs and shape their own development. This sense of ownership will help them evolve into institutions that are not only functional but also credible in the eyes of the public. And credibility, more than any single reform, is the true currency of justice.
If carried forward with seriousness, judicial outreach and localised reform can transform the way justice is experienced in Pakistan. More than anything, they can restore faith among those who matter most – the citizens who step into courtrooms each day, seeking fairness. Credibility, once rebuilt, will remain the strongest foundation of justice.
The writer holds a PhD in public administration and is the author of ‘Basics of Governance & Public Policy’. He can be reached at:
kamboyoshahidgmail.com