Guidelines on use of AI for national judiciary unveiled

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Apr, 2026) In a significant move aimed at modernising the country’s justice system, the Supreme Court of Pakistan announced that the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) has issued comprehensive national guidelines governing the use of artificial intelligence in judicial institutions.

The guidelines, approved during the committee’s 57th meeting, set out a structured and forward-looking framework for integrating artificial intelligence into court processes across Pakistan.

The initiative comes at a time when courts are facing increasing caseloads and growing demands for efficiency and transparency.

According to the press release, artificial intelligence will serve strictly as an assistive tool to support judicial functions, while the authority of judges as final decision-makers will remain intact. The framework emphasises a human-centric approach, ensuring that technology enhances, rather than replaces, judicial reasoning and constitutional safeguards.

The guidelines also place strong emphasis on ethical and transparent use of AI, incorporating safeguards against bias and ensuring accountability through explainable systems. Protection of data and privacy has been highlighted as a key priority, with strict standards outlined for safeguarding information regarding litigants and other stakeholders.

In practical terms, the framework allows for the use of AI in areas such as case management, legal research, predictive analysis and document processing, aiming to streamline operations and improve overall efficiency within the judiciary.

It also calls for structured training programmes to equip judges and court staff with the skills required to responsibly adopt emerging technologies.

The policy has been developed through an extensive consultative process led by the National Judicial Automation Committee (NJAC), headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar of the Supreme Court, with input from all high courts and relevant expert institutions. Officials said the framework aligns with international best practices while remaining consistent with Pakistan’s constitutional and institutional requirements.

While introducing a unified national standard, the guidelines also preserve the administrative and judicial autonomy of high courts, allowing each jurisdiction to implement the framework according to its own needs and capacity.

The issuance of these guidelines is being viewed as a milestone in Pakistan’s judicial reform efforts, reflecting a careful balance between technological advancement and the core principles of justice, fairness and independence. The full document has been made available on the official websites of the Supreme Court, the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan and the country’s high courts.