CJP calls for effective use of funds to facilitate courts

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Thursday underscored the need for timely and effective utilisation of the funds released to respective high courts and appreciated the role of fund in capacity building and infrastructural development of the district judiciary throughout Pakistan.

The CJP, who is also Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan chairman, headed the 19th meeting of the governing body, Access to Justice Development Fund (AJDF) held here at the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The chief justices of Lahore High Court, High Court of Balochistan, Islamabad High Court, High Court of Sindh, Peshawar High Court, Ministry of Law and Justice secretary, additional finance secretary and Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan secretary attended the meeting.

The governing body approved the suggestion floated by the high courts for utilisation of funds under UDR window exclusively for solarisation of courts and establishment e-libraries for one year in the underdeveloped districts of the country.

In addition, the projects of Lahore High Court for provision of missing facilities to female judicial officers and litigants in district courts were also approved. The apex body also approved mechanism for smooth and timely completion of projects funded from the AJDF.

The governing body also approved the recommendations of the Technical Evaluation Committee, AJDF, regarding projects undertaken through Legal Empowerment, Judicial & Legal Research and Legal Innovation Windows for timely completion.

Earlier, Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan Secretary Syeda Tanzeela Sabahat gave a brief overview of the AJDF, its mandate and overall performance with regard to funds released under various AJDF windows specifically for infrastructure development and projects executed in underdeveloped regions to bring them at par with other areas of the country.