ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi has asked the provincial bar councils and the Islamabad Bar Council to nominate two members each to review the draft e-filing templates and suggest improvements ahead of the pilot launch.
CJP Yahya Afridi, in his capacity as Chairperson of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC), held a consultative meeting on Thursday with representatives of the provincial bar councils, the Islamabad Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan.
The meeting focused on the proposed e-filing pilot for family cases and the establishment of Women Facilitation Centres. The discussions focused on draft e-filing templates developed under the proposed National Unified E-Filing and Electronic Judicial Record System for pilot implementation in family cases at selected judicial stations.
Emphasising the importance of consulting the legal fraternity, His Lordship underscored the need for a practical, effective, and user-friendly e-filing system shaped by practising advocates’ experience. The review will support the refinement of templates through a participatory process, ensuring they meet the practical needs of advocates and litigants.
The Bar representatives appreciated both the proposed e-filing pilot and the establishment of Women Facilitation Centres, recognising their potential to improve access to justice, particularly for women, and make the family justice system more accessible and responsive to litigants’ needs.
The consultation reflected a shared commitment to involving the legal fraternity in judicial reform, using technology to improve judicial services and strengthening access to justice for women and children.
Meanwhile, the CJP, in his capacity as Chairman of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, chaired a meeting at the Supreme Court of Pakistan to review progress on the establishment of Women Facilitation Centres across Pakistan. The initial phase will comprise four centres, one in each province, to provide women accessing the justice system with dedicated guidance and support services in a safe, accessible and dignified environment.
Chief Justice identified the establishment of dedicated Women Facilitation Centres in all four provinces and Islamabad as a priority for 2026–27. The centres are envisaged as a one-window facility to help women obtain information, guidance and assistance without having to approach multiple offices or make repeated visits.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026