Justice Yahya Afridi. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi noted that protracted tax disputes not only restrict fiscal space but also undermine investor confidence and economic stability.
He highlighted the judiciary’s commitment to reforms that promote speedy justice, efficiency and predictability, particularly in matters directly affecting the national economy.
According to a statement issued by the Supreme Court on Saturday, CJP Afridi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to deliberate on strategic reforms aimed at expeditiously resolving high-impact tax disputes that have significant implications for the national economy.
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of SC, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Member (Legal) FBR and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Participants engaged in an in-depth discussion on developing a sustainable institutional framework to resolve long-standing and high-value tax disputes, with a focus on reducing court backlogs, improving legal certainty and safeguarding public revenue.
The meeting discussed key reform-oriented strategies, including prioritizing and accelerating the handling of high-stakes tax cases and improving coordination between tax authorities and the judiciary.
Participants also discuss ways to strengthen legal preparation and case management and explore procedural and institutional measures to ensure consistency and speed of judgment.
“The meeting is part of a broader justice sector reform agenda, aimed at improving governance, reducing systemic delays and aligning judicial processes with the country’s economic and development priorities,” the statement said.
The CJP also chaired a high-level meeting in Lahore on Saturday “to advance judicial infrastructure reforms, with special emphasis on ensuring sustainable and uninterrupted power supply to the district courts of Punjab”.
The meeting was attended by Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Aalia Neelum, Chief Secretary Punjab, Finance Secretary Punjab, Secretary Energy Department, Membership Planning and Secretary Social Welfare Department, and other senior officials.
The agenda focused on government funding and policy support for the solarization of district courts to ensure continuity of court services, particularly in areas vulnerable to power cuts.
During the meeting, the Punjab Chief Secretary gave strong assurance that the provincial government would ensure uninterrupted power supply to courts across the province.
Where such supply cannot be reliably guaranteed, the government will provide solar energy solutions to keep the courts functioning smoothly, he said.
The CJP appreciated the proactive approach and strong commitment of the Punjab government, noting that reliable energy infrastructure is essential for timely delivery of justice, for institutional efficiency and for public confidence in the justice system.
He said the proposed measures would not only improve the functionality of the courts but also contribute to long-term sustainability, resilience and cost-effectiveness.
He stressed that judicial reforms require close coordination between the judiciary and the executive, and praised the spirit of collaboration demonstrated at the highest level.
