Karachi: The women representatives of the Sindh High Court Bar Association and the Karachi Bar Association called on Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi, at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Karachi Registry. The delegation included Amir Nawaz Warraich, President, Karachi Bar Association; Arshad Shar, General Secretary, Karachi Bar Association; Ms. Hussan Bano, Member, Managing Committee, Karachi Bar Association; Saleh Naeem, Member, Managing Committee, Karachi Bar Association; Ms. Fazeela Mangrio, General Secretary, Sindh High Court Bar Association; Ms. Nasira Brohi, Member, Managing Committee, Sindh High Court Bar Association; and Ms. Rukhsana Umer, Member, Managing Committee, Sindh High Court Bar Association. The meeting was also attended by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Sindh, Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, along with the President and General Secretary of the Sindh High Court Bar Association.
During the meeting, the Chief Justice of Pakistan shared his vision for strengthening women-friendly judicial infrastructure across the country. He stated that, pursuant to a decision of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC), 2026-27 has been designated as the year of priority for women litigants' facilitation, under which Women Facilitation Centres will be established in courts across Pakistan. The initiative aims to provide a safe, dignified, accessible and supportive environment for women seeking justice, ensuring their privacy, security, comfort and ease of access to judicial services.
The proposed Women Facilitation Centres will include dedicated reception and waiting areas, separate entrances, hygienic washrooms, mediation and alternative dispute resolution facilities, private consultation and meeting rooms, legal aid and legal advisory services, psychosocial support services, referral mechanisms for specialized support services, safe and dignified visitation facilities, as well as other essential support facilities designed to facilitate women litigants and visitors.
The Chief Justice further informed the participants that, under the auspices of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), the Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP) conducted a nationwide design competition for the Women Facilitation Centres. The top three designs have been selected and will be shared with all High Courts as model designs to facilitate the establishment of Women Facilitation Centres across the country.
The women representatives appreciated the initiative and expressed their gratitude to the Chief Justice for prioritising the facilitation of women litigants. They also highlighted various issues concerning women's access to justice and the legal profession. The Hon'ble Chief Justice assured the participants that their concerns would be addressed on priority in consultation with the respective High Courts and other relevant stakeholders.