A delegation of the European Union, led by H.E. Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis, called on the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan today at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Islamabad.
The visiting delegation comprised Mr. Jeroen Willems, Head of Cooperation; Mr. Piotr Buszta, Head of Political Section; Mr. Sebastien Lorion, Governance and Human Capital Development Expert; and Ms. Una Kelly, Development Adviser (Rule of Law). Ms. Nazia Sheikh, Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan, also remained associated during the engagement, alongside the Director General (Reforms), Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Secretary, Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.
The Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan welcomed the delegation and engaged them on the judiciary’s ongoing reform initiatives aimed at improving institutional performance through citizen-centric and technology-enabled interventions. His Lordship highlighted measures being undertaken to make the justice system more responsive, transparent, accessible, expeditious, and cost-effective for litigants across the country.
His Lordship also apprised the delegation of reforms promoting time-bound and cost-effective alternative dispute resolution, especially in commercial and high impact revenue matters, with a view to reducing litigation and enhancing investors’ confidence.
The delegation was further briefed on the Gender-Responsive Justice Initiative (GRJI) 2026–27, identified as a priority reform area for the upcoming financial year. The initiative envisages the establishment of Women Facilitation Centers within judicial complexes across Pakistan to provide safe, structured, and accessible support services to women litigants through coordinated institutional mechanisms.
The discussion also focused on mechanisms for institutional responses to cases of enforced disappearances and measures aimed at safeguarding judicial independence against extraneous influence on judges within the constitutional framework.
The European Union delegation appreciated the judiciary’s role in upholding rule of law, predictability, and institutional stability, and acknowledged the ongoing reform initiatives aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, judicial efficiency, and technology-enabled governance. The delegation particularly appreciated the emphasis on mediation, arbitration, gender-responsive justice, and citizen-centric service delivery.
The interaction reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthening rule of law, protection of human rights, judicial efficiency, and inclusive governance as essential foundations for sustainable economic and social development. It was agreed that both sides would remain closely engaged in the context of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Reform Agenda and the European Union’s forthcoming programmes relating to rule of law, prison support, and commercial dispute resolution.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan presented a souvenir to the delegation as a gesture of goodwill. The delegation expressed gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Justice for the warm reception and constructive engagement.
