Islamabad: The European Union (EU), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has embarked on a four-year initiative to fortify the rule of law and improve justice access in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. This EUR 10 million project aims to provide more accessible justice and security services, especially for women and vulnerable groups.

According to United Nations Development Programme, this programme capitalizes on previous EU efforts to bolster Pakistan’s justice sector by leveraging the complementary expertise of UNDP and UNODC. The initiative focuses on enhancing accountability, promoting alternative dispute resolution, and increasing institutional capacity to address civil and criminal justice challenges. It aims to foster stability, resilience, human development, and gender equality while safeguarding human rights.

Mr. Jeroen Willems of the EU Delegation to Pakistan highlighted the importance of justice access in protecting rights and expressed optimism about the programme’s impact over the next four years. Dr. Samuel Rizk of UNDP Pakistan emphasized the critical link between justice and development, pointing to the programme’s potential to build public trust in legal protections. Mr. Troels Vester of UNODC Pakistan underscored the collaborative effort with local governments to ensure justice services are more accessible and effective.

The programme is part of a broader EUR 65 million cooperation package under the EU’s Support to the Rule of Law and Business Environment in Pakistan initiative, aiming to implement sustainable reforms aligned with regional rule of law roadmaps.