ISLAMABAD: The National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) on Wednesday formally issued national guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in judicial institutions, the Supreme Court said.

In a press release issued by the SC, the guidelines, approved by the NJPMC in its 57th meeting, established a clear, principled and forward-looking framework for integrating AI into judicial processes across the country.

“At a time when courts faced mounting caseloads and increasing demands for efficiency and transparency, the guidelines positioned AI as a powerful assistive tool — one that enhances judicial performance while firmly preserving human judgment, constitutional safeguards, and judicial independence,” the statement said, calling it a landmark step toward modernising the justice system.

The key highlights of the guidelines include a human-centric approach through which AI would assist — and not replace — judicial decision-making, ensuring judges remained the “ultimate arbiters”.

Likewise, it will promote ethical and transparent use, providing strong safeguards against bias, with emphasis on explainability and accountability.

On data protection, strict adherence to privacy and data security standards for litigants and stakeholders will be maintained, whereas AI-enabled support in case management, legal research, predictive analytics and document processing will ensure practical applications.

The guidelines will help capacity building, for which structured training for judges and court staff to responsibly adopt emerging technologies will be employed, the statement said.

It said that the framework was developed through an extensive consultative process led by the National Judicial Automation Committee (NJAC), headed by SC’s Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, adding that it incorporated feedback from all high courts and expert institutions.

“It also aligns with international best practices while remaining firmly rooted in Pakistan’s constitutional and institutional context,” the statement said.

Importantly, while setting a unified national standard, the guidelines respect the administrative and judicial autonomy of high courts, enabling each jurisdiction to tailor implementation according to its specific needs and capacities, the statement said.

“The initiative marks a significant milestone in Pakistan’s judicial reform journey — striking a careful balance between technological innovation and the enduring principles of justice, fairness and independence,” the statement concluded.