- Chairs 8th review session, reviews 36 of 86 reform initiatives completed under RAP
- Orders acceleration of pending justice reforms, audits and automation, reaffirming transparent, litigant-focused justice system
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi on Wednesday reaffirmed his vision for a citizen-centric, technology-driven justice system while chairing the eighth interactive progress review session at the Supreme Court, where he examined monthly reforms under the Reform Action Plan (RAP) and set directions for pending initiatives and upcoming milestones.
The session—attended by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, Chairman of the National Judicial Automation Committee (NJAC), along with senior officials, technical experts, and section heads—reviewed progress across judicial digitization, case management, IT integration, financial oversight, and public facilitation mechanisms.
Other participants included the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Director General (Reforms), IT Advisor Hamayun Zafar, section heads of the Court, the Director General of the Federal Judicial Academy, and the Secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP).
The Chief Justice reviewed progress achieved under the reform framework. Of the 86 initiatives identified in the RAP, 36 have been completed, 45 are under implementation, and 13 are scheduled to begin shortly—indicators of the judiciary’s sustained effort to modernize processes, enhance institutional efficiency, and strengthen public-facing services.
He examined updates on case disposal, case categorization, record digitization, IT integration, financial controls, audit mechanisms, and public facilitation initiatives. Justice Afridi noted with satisfaction that case categorization is underway and that more than 126,000 records have been digitized out of the targeted 61,900, with the remaining work expected to be completed within the stipulated timeline. He also initiated the standardization and quality assurance process.
Progress on automation—including software enhancements, improved IT integration, and QR-coded certified copies—was also reviewed. For launching the E-Courts project, focused group discussions will be held at the Federal Judicial Academy in collaboration with the Ministry of IT and Telecom and the Pakistan Digital Authority to prepare a master plan for end-to-end digitization of all courts, from district judiciary to the Supreme Court. Capacity-building sessions on data management and analysis initiatives were also discussed.
Reviewing the public facilitation component in detail, the CJP acknowledged improvement in the system for receiving calls and complaints, as well as the proactive outreach mechanism through which citizens are contacted for feedback. Progress on ADR and mediation initiatives and updates on performance and security audits were also presented.
Underscoring the importance of transparency, he reiterated that financial discipline and regular audits are essential for accountable institutional governance. He directed all departments to accelerate outstanding tasks ahead of the next review meeting, emphasizing that sustained, measurable progress is vital for maintaining public trust in the judiciary.
Reaffirming the Supreme Court’s commitment to a litigant-focused justice system, CJP Afridi said that timely and effective adjudication is not only a constitutional obligation but also a moral responsibility. He commended the contributions of officers, technical teams and partner institutions, and reiterated the judiciary’s resolve to foster innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity in building a justice system that is transparent, modern, and equitable.
