Pakistani courts will observe four-day work weeks while litigants and counsels will be encouraged to participate in proceedings through video-link facilities, where feasible, as part of austerity measures amid the fuel crisis resulting from the Middle East conflict.
The notification was issued after Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi chaired a virtual meeting of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) at the SC, where it was decided that similar measures would be adopted by the Federal Shariat Court (FSC), high courts and district courts.
According to a notification issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, “In view of likely disruption in the supply of petroleum products resulting in escalating energy costs, it is imperative to adopt prudent and responsible measures to conserve resources. “Accordingly, following austerity and fuel conservation measures, as far as possible, shall be adopted in the Supreme Court of Pakistan with immediate effect until further notice.”
The measures outlined in the notification included four-day work weeks, from Monday to Thursday. “The court shall observe holidays from Friday to Sunday,” the notification said. It further stated that the monthly ceiling of Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) allocated to judges and entitled officers should be reduced by 50 per cent.
The notification also said that no additional protocol or security vehicles shall be deployed during movement within designated high-security zones. However, the quarters concerned shall ensure route security as per required protocols. Moreover, litigants and counsels should be encouraged to participate in proceedings throug
