LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has called for the establishment of a Punjab Law Commission to institutionalise evidence-based lawmaking, strengthen democratic governance, and elevate the quality of provincial legislation.

Addressing a consultative session titled “Assembly and Bar” at the Old Assembly Hall, the speaker emphasised that modern legislatures must evolve to effectively address emerging governance challenges and public policy needs. He proposed that the provincial law commission be mandated to conduct legislative research, evaluate existing laws, and provide policy guidance across key sectors such as health, education, and local governance.

He noted that the spirit of the 18th Amendment requires stronger provincial institutions and empowered local governments capable of delivering services through responsive legal frameworks.

The session brought together representatives from the Pakistan Bar Council, the Punjab Bar Council, senior legal professionals, parliamentarians, and policymakers to deliberate on legislative reform and judicial efficiency.

Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Pir Masood Chishti underscored the legal profession’s role in advancing justice sector reforms, particularly in improving investigation and prosecution mechanisms.

Punjab Bar Council Vice Chairman Khawaja Qaiser Butt welcomed the assembly’s engagement with the legal community as a major step toward participatory lawmaking, while Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rushda Lodhi proposed a joint consultative forum to ensure regular expert legal input on policy matters.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2026