Lahore: Responding to concerns raised by lawyers and citizens regarding the recent hike in court fees, the Punjab Government has announced significant reductions across various legal applications and petitions. The decision came after Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed legal authorities to engage with stakeholders and address grievances expressed by the legal fraternity over the fee increases introduced in this year’s budget.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, a high-level meeting led by Federal Minister for Law Mr. Azam Nazir Tarar and Provincial Minister for Law Mr. Sohaib Ahmed Bherth was convened at the Law and Parliamentary Affairs office. The meeting, which included prominent members from various Bar Associations and legal bodies, aimed to reassess and revise court fees to alleviate public burden and ensure access to justice.

The committee decided on a new fee structure intended to make legal proceedings more affordable. For instance, the fee for copying or translating judgments from civil courts will now be Rs. 100, and from the High Court, Rs. 500. The per-page fee for court documents has been reduced dramatically from Rs. 100 to Rs. 10. Additionally, the fee for applications related to land revenue, civil matters, and certain high court procedures will see significant reductions, reflecting a broader move towards fee standardization and reduction.

These changes underscore the government’s commitment to maintaining a justice system that is accessible to all segments of society. The final recommendations from the meeting will be forwarded to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for approval, with expected prompt implementation following her endorsement.

The legal community, represented at the meeting by senior lawyers and Bar Council members, expressed gratitude towards the Chief Minister and legal ministers for their swift action in addressing the concerns related to court fees, marking a positive step towards enhancing legal affordability in Punjab.