ISLAMABAD :The ministry of law and justice has decided to establish a small housing colony in Diplomatic Enclave for the Islamabad High Court judges.

The projects in this regard have been proposed in the upcoming federal budget and Annual Plans Coordination Committee (APCC) has cleared the projects in the first phase of approval.

The APCC headed by the deputy chairman planning commission has recently approved the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2024-25, which included acquisition of land and the construction of boundary wall and residences for the chief justice and the judges of the IHC. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs366 million, and in the first phase Rs115 million will be released during the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25.

However, under the system the projects of the PSDP will be finalised by the National Economic Council, chaired by the prime minister, which usually meets a day ahead of the finalisation of the federal budget.

The sanctioned strength of the IHC is 10 judges including the chief justice and the project includes construction of guard rooms too.

There are dedicated residential units for the judges of the Supreme Court near the Punjab House but the judges of the IHC are housed in the government residences spread in the federal capital.

Meanwhile, Rs500 million has been allocated for another project of the ministry of law and justice for Islamabad.

The APCC in the PSDP of next fiscal approved allocation of Rs500 million for Litigants Facilitation Centre for the litigants of district courts in G-10/1.The project has been delayed for more than year for want of funds, resulting in cost escalation too.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2024