The Supreme Court of Pakistan has announced an extensive package of judicial reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency and public access to justice. These reforms, introduced under the Supreme Court Rules 2025, mark a major step toward modernization of the country’s judicial system through the integration of advanced technology and institutional development.
A technology-based judicial framework has been launched, featuring a digital case management system that includes e-filing, online cause lists, and real-time case tracking. So far, 16,334 cases have been e-filed and 7,242 e-affidavits submitted, reflecting a strong response from the legal community. The system also ensures secure access to 54,473 archived court decisions, with QR code verification now available for 8,735 judgments.
Integration with NADRA will soon allow the public to obtain certified digital documents, while an online feedback system and information cell have been activated to improve responsiveness. The Anti-Corruption Hotline reported the disposal of 41,450 complaints, and the Overseas Facilitation Cell successfully guided citizens in 299 cases. The Supreme Judicial Council disposed of 130 complaints during four meetings this year.
In a historic move, 53 judges have been appointed since November 2024 through the Judicial Commission, and court-linked arbitration centers have been established across all districts of Punjab, with expansion underway in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad. Special benches in High Courts will now handle financial and tax cases, supported by 108 judges in Punjab, 65 in Sindh, 17 in KP, and 4 in Balochistan.
The Court also introduced ethical guidelines for the use of generative AI in judicial processes — a first in Pakistan’s judicial history — and linked all High Courts to a centralized Judicial Digital Dashboard.
On the development front, Rs 1.611 billion was distributed under the Justice Development Fund, marking the highest disbursement in 20 years, complemented by a Rs 2 billion federal grant. Women centers have been established in 84 districts, while solarization and e-libraries are now operational in 112 courts across 69 less-developed districts.
A fast-track model court in Abbottabad has also been introduced, where 13 new timelines for case categories aim to reduce delays. During this period, 12,278 cases were disposed of in Punjab and 586 in Balochistan, reflecting the efficiency of the reforms.
On the legislative front, proposals for family law reforms are under review, including clarifications on alimony and dower, and the inclusion of a dowry column in marriage certificates. Meanwhile, the National Judicial Education Policy is being drafted, having already trained 12,485 judges, lawyers, and court staff nationwide.
The Supreme Court also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Supreme People’s Court of China to promote judicial cooperation and knowledge exchange.
Further details of the reforms and their implementation framework are available on the Supreme Court’s official website.