The Supreme Court of Pakistan has launched a dedicated legal call centre accessible by dialling 1818, providing citizens across the country with a direct telephonic channel to access court-related information, initial legal guidance, and referrals for legal aid without requiring a physical visit to the court or payment of any consultation fee. The facility was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, with a citizen named Muhammad Saleem formally becoming the first caller to use the service, marking the commencement of what officials described as a significant step toward making the justice system more accessible to ordinary Pakistanis.
Through the 1818 helpline, callers can obtain information on a wide range of procedural and administrative matters relating to the Supreme Court, including case status updates, hearing dates, cause lists, case fixation procedures, filing processes, and guidance on removing filing objections. Assistance is also available for citizens seeking to obtain certified copies of judgments and orders, submit early hearing applications, and navigate the court’s online services. An expert legal adviser will be available to handle litigation-related queries and explain the appropriate procedural steps for different types of cases, ensuring that callers receive substantive guidance rather than generic information that leaves them no better equipped to act.
For those who cannot afford legal representation, the helpline will facilitate referrals to the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan for consideration under applicable legal aid arrangements, creating a pathway through which financially constrained citizens can be connected with formal legal assistance rather than left to navigate the courts without any professional support. The initiative is explicitly framed around the needs of three groups that have historically faced the greatest barriers to accessing justice: people facing financial difficulties, those living in remote areas who cannot easily travel to Islamabad to attend to court matters, and individuals who are unfamiliar with court procedures and lack the professional networks to obtain guidance informally.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Supreme Court judges, representatives of the Supreme Court Bar Association and Pakistan Bar Council, members of the Legal Aid Committee, and lawyers, reflecting the broad institutional support for the initiative within the legal community. The launch of the 1818 Legal Call Centre forms part of the Supreme Court’s broader modernisation agenda under Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, which has included the rollout of video link hearings that allow judges and counsel to participate from multiple cities simultaneously, progress on a nationwide electronic court system targeting full deployment by August 2026, and a commitment to solar power and e-library facilities across all courts in Pakistan as part of a coordinated effort to bring the country’s judicial infrastructure into alignment with contemporary standards of accessibility and transparency.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
