Based on the statutory mandate enshrined in Section 8 of the Legal Aid and Justice Authority (LAJA) Act, 2020, a PSDP project titled “Establishment of Mediation, Human Rights Training Centre and ADR” was prepared by LAJA. The project was approved by the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP); however, it was frozen during the previous year and funds were not released.
The Federal Government has now allocated funds amounting to Rs. 114 million for the financial year 2023–24. The project primarily focuses on settlement of disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms across the country.
Key initiatives under the project include pilot establishment of police and local bodies’ reconciliatory committees at the grassroots level, along with capacity building of members of these committees. This initiative is a significant step towards fulfilling the constitutional mandate and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the State for providing easy and equitable access to justice for all.