Quetta, Balochistan Home Minister Mr. Ziaullah Langua praised the collaborative efforts with the European Union and the United Nations at the close of the 7th Steering Committee meeting for the ‘Deliver Justice Project.’ His remarks underscored the significant strides made in reinforcing the rule of law within the province, aiming for a justice system centered around the needs of its people.
According to United Nations Pakistan, the meeting chaired by Mr. Zahid Saleem, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) of the Government of Balochistan, recognized the pivotal contributions of various UN agencies including UNODC, UN Women, and UNDP. These partnerships have been crucial in supporting institutional reforms across legislative, police, prison, and gender-focused sectors, with a strong emphasis on achieving results through evidence-based initiatives.
The Rule of Law Roadmap, initially set for 2018–2022, has been extended to 2023–2026 after a comprehensive evaluation. This revised roadmap focuses on consolidating and scaling up good practices and data-informed approaches within Balochistan’s justice sector. Mr. Jeroen Willems, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Pakistan, highlighted the roadmap’s crucial role in promoting justice, peace, and security, particularly benefiting women and girls. He stressed the importance of government ownership and resource allocation for the successful implementation of these reforms.
Dr. Jeremy Milsom, Representative of the UNODC Country Office, thanked the Balochistan government for their continued commitment to the roadmap, which includes adopting modern, evidence-based approaches to enhance institutional performance and robust reform implementation.
Additionally, Mr. Arsalan Malik from the UNODC presented the 2024 work plan and updates, noting the government’s proactive steps such as the adoption of PC-1 and the endorsement of the Action Plan 2024–26. These steps are part of the second phase of reforms aimed at further strengthening the capabilities of criminal justice actors in the province.
Representatives from Balochistan’s criminal justice departments discussed their progress and challenges, highlighting the importance of inter-departmental coordination in addressing the fundamental issues of the justice system. Notable milestones of the roadmap include the establishment of Women and Juvenile Facilitation Centres, Smart Police Stations, and a Serious Crime Investigation Wing equipped with gender facilitation desks.
These developments mark significant progress in transforming Balochistan’s rule of law sector into a more responsive and citizen-friendly system.