Quetta:- In his closing remarks at the 7th steering committee meeting of the EU-funded Deliver Justice Project, Balochistan Interior Minister Mr. Ziaullah Langua praised the European Union and UN partners for supporting the government’s rule of law reform agenda. . He further said, “It is a journey we are all looking forward to as we take the work under the new Rule of Law Plan to the next level to realize our vision of a people-centred rule of law in Balochistan.” He also praised the police, levies, prosecutors, probation and parole and prisons for their commendable work in improving their legal and operational capacities.
Mr. Zahid Saleem, chairing the 7th project steering committee meeting, congratulated all partners for their long-term cooperation with UNODC and other UN agencies, especially UN Women and UNDP. He commended their institutional support by emphasizing the importance of achieving the desired results and simultaneously aligning ongoing efforts in legislative, police, prison and women-focused reforms. In addition, he emphasized the importance of citizen-centered and evidence-based rule of law initiatives.
During the meeting, key stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting evidence-based reforms in the rule of law sector to strengthen public trust and confidence in law enforcement agencies in Balochistan. The Rule of Law Plan was initially approved for four years (2018-2022) and expired in May 2022. A recent evaluation informed a revised RoLR for a further four years (2023-2026) to consolidate, sustain, expand and institutionalize best practices. and data-driven approaches in Balochistan’s justice sector.
Mr. Jeroen Willems, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Pakistan, stressed the need for government accountability and provision of adequate resources for the effective implementation of the Rule of Law Plan, saying that the renewed Rule of Law Plan 2023-2026 was essential to promote justice, peace and security , especially for women and girls. He also said data-driven and results-based approaches remained the backbone of the plan, serving as a tool to track progress and make timely decisions, while citizen-focused interventions aimed to increase public confidence in the justice system.
Dr. Jeremy Milsom, Representative, UNODC Country Office, thanked the Government of Balochistan for their vision and commitment and for facilitating the revalidation and approval of the revised plan. He also emphasized the need for institutional leadership to adopt evidence-based approaches to improving performance, noting the effectiveness of such methodologies to measure institutional performance and implement robust reforms. Dr. Additionally, Milsom expressed gratitude to the European Union for their continued support in strengthening the rule of law and transforming the rule of law sector in Balochistan into a citizen-friendly and demand-driven sector.
Mr. Arsalan Malik, Criminal Justice and Reform Adviser, UNODC Pakistan Office, presented the project updates and work plan for 2024. He appreciated the commitment of the Government of Balochistan as evidenced by the adoption of PC-1 and the initiation of the second phase of reforms through the approval of the Action Plan 2024-2026 . He said that with EU support, the partners are well positioned to further strengthen the capacity of criminal justice actors in Balochistan.
Representatives from the Balochistan Police, Prosecution, Prisons, Levy and Reclamation and Probation Departments presented their progress in meeting the targets of the provincial RoLs. They shared the challenges and successes of criminal justice agencies in addressing underlying issues through sectoral coordination. The way to implement RoLR was also discussed and agreed.
Milestones achieved under the roadmap include capacity building and establishment of facilitation centers such as Women and Juvenile Facilitation Center (WJFC), Smart Police Stations, Serious Crime Investigation Unit (SCIW) with Gender Facilitation Desks, etc.
