LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided, for the first time in the province’s history, to launch a “Tele Legal Aid Assistance” service within the Punjab Prosecution Department to provide free legal support to poor, destitute and socially and economically marginalised women.
The initiative will be introduced under the Punjab Legal Aid Agency as part of a broader set of reforms aimed at ensuring easier public access to free legal assistance. Through a dedicated telephone helpline, affected women will be able to seek comprehensive legal guidance and representation at no cost.
Official sources told The News that amendments to the Punjab Legal Aid Rules 2025 have been drafted to enable the establishment of tele legal aid system. The final approval is expected to be granted this week by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
In a significant policy shift, the government is also set to abolish a key condition that required applicants to furnish proof that their monthly income was below Rs50,000 in order to qualify for free legal aid. Under the existing rules, the submission of such an income certificate was mandatory, a requirement that had prevented many deserving individuals from accessing state-funded legal support.
With the removal of this clause, a substantial number of vulnerable prisoners across Punjab are expected to benefit. These include 1,420 inmates belonging to minority communities, 717 juveniles, 291 foreign nationals, 1,348 women imprisoned for various offences, and more than 2,000 elderly prisoners currently lodged in jails across the province.
The Punjab Prosecution Department has also developed an online portal for the submission of applications for free legal aid. Applicants will be required to upload their national identity card number, parentage details and gender along with their request. A decision on each application will be made within seven days, and successful applicants will receive confirmation via email, along with the name and contact number of lawyer appointed by the government to represent them.
Sources further revealed that the annual remuneration paid by the government to lawyers providing free legal aid will be increased by Rs25,000 to Rs35,000. Of the revised amount, 10 per cent will be transferred to the lawyer’s account in advance prior to the commencement of the case, in an effort to streamline proceedings and incentivise prompt legal representation.
The introduction of tele legal aid and the proposed regulatory amendments mark a significant step towards strengthening access to justice for marginalised segments of society in Punjab, particularly women facing acute socioeconomic hardships.
