• Justice Afridi says resident additional secretaries appointed in provinces to improve coordination, service delivery
• Bar bodies stress capacity building for young lawyers, raise infrastructure, water issues at Judicial Complex
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Thursday said resident additional secretaries had been appointed in the provinces, and priority areas had been identified for solarisation, e-libraries, women facilitation centres and the provision of clean drinking water.
As part of stakeholders’ engagement, delegations from the Mansehra District Bar Association and Kohat District Bar Association called on the CJP at the Supreme Court.
The delegations discussed reform interventions with a focus on citizen-centric justice.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan informed the delegations that he had personally visited remote areas across the country to identify coordination gaps in the timely disbursement of funds under the Access to Justice Fund Programme.
To address these gaps and improve service delivery, resident additional secretaries have been appointed in the provinces, and priority areas — including solarisation, e-libraries, women facilitation centres and the provision of clean drinking water — have been earmarked.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan also shared updates on ongoing judicial reforms aimed at improving court infrastructure and access to justice, with completion targeted by August 2026, and reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to citizen-centric and sustainable justice delivery.
The delegation from the Kohat District Bar Association highlighted the need for capacity building of young lawyers and appreciated the extension of e-library and clean drinking water facilities to their bar under these initiatives.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan briefed them on the Continuing Legal Education programmes conducted by the Federal Judicial Academy, from which young lawyers can benefit to enhance their professional skills and legal expertise.
He said the training calendar is available on the Federal Judicial Academy’s platform.
The delegation from the Mansehra District Bar Association also raised issues related to infrastructure and the availability of water at the Judicial Complex.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan directed the resident additional secretary concerned to visit the site and ensure prompt resolution of the matter.
Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2026
