ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi met United Nations (UN) officials on Monday to discuss priorities for reforming the country’s justice sector and strengthening public confidence in the rule of law.

The meeting with Mohamed Yahya, the UN resident coordinator in Pakistan, served as a platform for an “in-depth exchange of views” on the evolving role of judicial institutions in strengthening governance, accountability, and public confidence in the rule of law, the Supreme Court said in a statement.

The delegation included country representatives from the UN Development Programme, UN Women, the UN Children’s Fund, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the UN Population Fund.

CJP Afridi outlined ongoing reform interventions aimed at improving access to justice and institutional efficiency. He described the goal as ensuring a system that is “responsive, inclusive, and citizen-centric.”

Meeting focused on enhancing public trust in the rule of law, accountability

During the discussion, the chief justice highlighted the link between legal sector reforms and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which advocate for equal access to justice and the creation of accountable institutions.

According to the statement, the chief justice acknowledged the role UN agencies have played in supporting governance reforms, particularly regarding human rights protection, gender equality, and rule of law development.

The parties discussed future collaborations, including technical assistance, judicial education, policy support, and the implementation of “data-driven and evidence-based reform initiatives”.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2026