Quetta: The Government of Balochistan, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has announced the commencement of the implementation of the new and revalidated Rule of Law Roadmap (ROLR) 2023-2026, which is said to be enhancing rule-based access to justice delivery for the people of Balochistan.
While appreciating the government’s measure, Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar, Governor of Balochistan, said, “Upholding the rule of law for the people is our primary responsibility and the Roadmap is a step in the right direction to ensure we work towards delivering peace and security for the citizens of Balochistan.”
The revalidated Rule of Law Roadmap builds on the successes and achievements of its previous phase of the Rule of Law Roadmap of Balochistan, established in 2018 as a flagship program. Since its initiative, the Law Roadmap has played a critical role in introducing reforms, aiming at enhancing the judiciary capacity in Balochistan and providing citizens with better and more responsive judicial services.
Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, ex-Chief Minister of Balochistan, said, “The Rule of Law Roadmap represents our vision and strategy to advance crucial reforms that would facilitate easy access to justice. The Government of Balochistan reaffirms its commitment to keeping improvement of the rule of law’s responsiveness and accessibility to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable segments of the population, with effectiveness in services delivery”.
Under the newly granted PC-I (PKR 500 million), the Government of Balochistan is committed to providing financial resources, which will go a long way towards ensuring sustainability in order to function and achieve outcomes against anticipated strategic objectives and implement rule of law reform in a much more systematic and organized manner
The revalidated Rule of Law Roadmap is a demand-driven, need-based, and comprehensive document that envisages closer coordination for the effective implementation of the second generation of rule of law reforms and adaptive management of sectoral initiatives aimed at enhancing the rule of law in the Province.
“The cutting-edge methods Roadmap recommends will drive evidence-based policy reforms in the criminal justice system of Balochistan. Institutions across the rule of law chain have consistently shown their dedication to the Roadmap’s results-based strategy by establishing its foundation in solid baselines, periodic stock takes, and data analytics to inform policy,” added Ziaullah Langau, Minister Home Department.
Roadmap will help to make our rule of law institutions robust to improve service delivery and increase citizens’ trust in the justice system, said Abdul Aziz Uqaili, Chief Secretary Balochistan while commenting on the measure.
Saleh Muhammad Nasar, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, acknowledged UNODC for its continued technical assistance in pioneering the Rule of Law Roadmap design and advancing the rule of reforms in a satisfactory and timely manner. International partners, particularly European Union, have contributed substantial financial support for the development and rollout of the Roadmap. UNDP and UN Women have also provided inputs to the development of the Rule of Law Roadmap of Balochistan.
Jeremy Milsom, Representative, UNODC Pakistan mentioned, “At the heart of reform strategy of the Roadmap remains a whole of system approach to drive reform on the basis of credible evidence. UNODC is committed to supporting the implementation of the revalidated Rule of Law Roadmap to strengthen the capacities of the Rule of Law institutions through collaborative, financial, legislative, and hands-on support.”
As the revalidated Rule of Law Roadmap initiates implementation, it heralds the beginning of a new era of justice delivery aimed at enhancing citizens’ trust in the justice system in Balochistan.
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