Enhancing access to legal aid in Pakistan Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad August 4, 2023: Under the European Union-funded ‘Deliver Justice Project’, the Legal Aid and Justice Authority (LAJA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly organized a two-day consultative workshop to improve access to legal aid in Pakistan. The workshop brought together representatives from the government, rule of law institutions, national and international partners, and civil society organizations to discuss LAJA’s mandate and provide recommendations to LAJA/government regarding how to ensure access to justice through legal aid in a sustainable manner. LAJA was established under the LAJA Act 2020 to provide legal, financial, and technical assistance for access to justice for poor and vulnerable groups in society on criminal cases. The key functions of LAJA are to provide legal aid/assistance to poor and vulnerable groups, particularly women and children; enhance public awareness of legal aid and laws in Pakistan; research legal aid and pro bono legal services in Pakistan; and advise the government on the right to a fair trial and due process of the law. Under the European Union-funded ‘Deliver Justice Project’, UNDP Pakistan’s Rule of Law Programme and LAJA organized the two-day consultative workshop to identify challenges faced by LAJA and develop recommendations to feed into a new strategic plan for LAJA to effectively implement its key functions.