INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY MESSAGE OF HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF PAKISTAN

The women of Pakistan are central to the strength and progress of our nation. Despite numerous challenges, they contribute across every sphere of economic, social, and civic life with resilience and determination. Their leadership and vision continually shape the present and the future of our country.

The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan guarantees equality before law and prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender. These guarantees are not merely aspirational; they are binding constitutional obligations that require all public institutions, especially the courts as custodians of the Constitution, to actively protect women and ensure practical enforcement of their rights.

Despite these guarantees, women in Pakistan continue to face obstacles that make accessing justice difficult, and at times intimidating.

Over the years, the judiciary has taken affirmative steps to strengthen the protection of women's rights and improve their access to justice.

In order to fully prioritise the protection of women's rights, the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) has placed gender-responsive justice at the centre of the judiciary's reform agenda for the year 2026–27.

• Establishment of Women Facilitation Centers in court complexes across Pakistan.
• Institutionalizing free legal aid and advisory services for women.
• Strengthening mediation and family support services within court systems.
• Review of family laws through the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.
• Development of a framework for Gender-Fair Language within the justice sector.
• Expansion of legal awareness initiatives for women in rural and marginalized communities.

Through these initiatives, the NJPMC seeks to sustain a justice system that is not only fair in principle but also accessible, humane, and responsive in practice.

On this day, we renew our collective pledge to create safe and respectful judicial workplaces, promote innovative solutions that expand access to justice, and ensure that gender equality remains a central pillar of ongoing justice sector reforms.

The measure of a just society lies in the dignity, freedom, and equality it affords its women. Protecting and advancing the rights of women is therefore essential to the realisation of justice itself.

Let this International Women’s Day remind us that the true strength of the rule of law is measured by how effectively it protects the most vulnerable and ensures equal opportunity for all.