A meeting between the mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Supreme Bar of the Pakistan Bar (SCBAP) was held in Islamabad on Monday to resolve critical issues affecting the Pakistan justice system and its broader economic environment.
The meeting, led by the president of the SCBAP, Mian Muhammad RAUF ATA, focused on improving legal efficiency, the application of contracts and the protection of property rights – the key areas which, according to the IMF, have a direct impact on foreign investments and economic growth.
The presidents of the associations of the bar of the high court of Balouthistan and Sindh, Mir Atta Ullah Langove and Barister Sarfraz Metlo, Sindh, Mir Atta Ullah Langove and lawyer Sarfraz Metlo. The session lasted more than an hour and discussed several areas of concern, in particular judicial efficiency, which the Mission of the IMF has stressed as a central question.
The president of the SCBAP described the current efforts to improve legal efficiency in Pakistan. He noted the introduction of an electronic deposit system by the chief judge of Pakistan (CJP), which replaces the traditional deposit system, as well as improvements in cases management to accelerate the elimination of cases pending. In addition, the introduction of video links in front of the Supreme Court aims to rationalize operations and reduce delays.
In addition, the president of the SCBAP underlined the 26th constitutional amendment recently introduced, which aims to improve judicial independence and efficiency. Under this amendment, a constitutional bench was trained to manage complex and high -level political and constitutional affairs, thus reducing the congestion of the courts for regular work.
Another important initiative discussed was the institutional system that monitors the performance of judges, emphasizing the improvement of the responsibility and the effectiveness of the judiciary at all levels.
In terms of contract application, the IMF mission has raised concerns about delays and procedural ineffectiveness. The president of the SCBAP replied by recognizing the problem but assured the mission that the government is working to create an environment conducive to attracting foreign investments. Specialized courts and benches are established to specifically deal with the questions of application of contracts.
With regard to property rights, the mission has been informed that articles 23 and 24 of the Pakistan Constitution guarantee the right to have goods, and efforts are made to strengthen anti-training laws and application mechanisms.
The meeting ended with the two parties emphasizing the need for economic and political stability, as well as good governance, to meet the challenges faced by the judicial system and improve the investment climate of Pakistan. The president of the SCBAP stressed that the rule of law is the cornerstone to achieve these objectives.
The IMF mission agreed to follow up by sharing a questionnaire on the questions discussed with the SCBAP, by seeking detailed answers as well as proposals and suggestions to respond to the concerns raised.