CHITRAL: In a major push to modernise the judicial landscape of the region, three pivotal development projects were inaugurated at the district courts of Lower Chitral on Saturday, aligning with the reform vision of the Peshawar High Court.

District and sessions judge Shahnaz Hamid Khattak launched the initiatives — an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) centre, a modern district Malkhana (evidence store), and a 6KV solar power system for the district bar — by unveiling a commemorative plaque during a function.

The Lower Chitral deputy commissioner, the district bar president, and a large number of legal practitioners were also in attendance.

Speaking on the occasion, Judge Khattak emphasised that the primary objective of these interventions was to deliver “affordable, swift, and effective justice” to the citizens at their doorsteps.

“The ADR centre is a cornerstone of this reform, designed to resolve family, civil, and minor disputes through mutual consent outside the traditional courtroom setting,” the judge noted. She highlighted that the facility would significantly reduce the judicial backlog while saving litigants both time and financial resources.

She stated that the establishment of modern district Malkhana would ensure the safe, systematic storage of case evidence and sensitive materials, such as narcotics. This move is expected to bolster judicial transparency and reinforce public confidence in the legal system, she added.

Furthermore, the judge described the installation of the 6KV solar system as a critical development for the district bar. She noted that the transition to renewable energy would ensure that court proceedings and lawyers’ professional duties remained uninterrupted by frequent power loadshedding.

“Our commitment is to ensuring that justice remains transparent and people-friendly, even in a remote district like Chitral,” Ms Khattak added.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2026