By Hasan Salahuddin

Pakistan and China have taken significant steps to strengthen judicial cooperation, with the Supreme Court of Pakistan and China’s Supreme People’s Court advancing a partnership focused on technology integration, capacity building and structured training. Experts believe the collaboration could help modernize Pakistan’s overstretched justice system and improve efficiency in court processes.

The cooperation gained formal footing in August 2025 when the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Supreme People’s Court of China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a framework for judicial exchanges, technology cooperation, capacity building and collaboration in emerging legal areas.

The engagement was reinforced through participation of Pakistani judicial delegations in several international forums, including the 20th Conference of Chief Justices of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states in Hangzhou in April 2025, the 9th China-South Asia Legal Training Programme in Shanghai in May 2025, and the 8th China-AALCO Exchange and Research Programme on International Law in Beijing in July 2025.

A dedicated information technology delegation from Pakistan’s Supreme Court and various high courts is also scheduled to visit China’s Supreme People’s Court in July 2026 to study digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence in judicial processes.

The significance of such cooperation becomes more apparent in light of Pakistan’s mounting judicial burden.

According to the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan’s Bi-Annual Judicial Statistics Report for July-December 2025, more than 2.22 million cases remained pending across superior courts and district judiciary as of December 31, 2025, reflecting the growing strain on the country’s legal system.

Against this backdrop, China’s Smart Court model is increasingly attracting attention as a potential source of practical lessons.

China’s judicial technology reforms include the AI-assisted 206 System, developed by the Shanghai People’s High Court in collaboration with iFlytek, which assists in reviewing evidence, identifying inconsistencies and supporting more standardized case management.

In addition, iFlytek’s automatic speech recognition technology has been installed in over 4,200 courtrooms across China. The company reports that the system can reduce overall trial duration by nearly 30 percent.

Speaking with Wealth Pakistan, Dr Kashif Javed, Associate Professor at the Department of Law at Lahore Leads University, said Pakistan’s common law framework differs significantly from China’s legal system, making it important to distinguish between legal procedures and technological tools.

He explained that Pakistan’s legal system follows an adversarial process, whereas China adopts an inquisitorial model. However, technology and administrative systems could still be adapted without affecting the core legal structure.

Referring to China’s AI-assisted 206 System, Dr Javed said such technology could serve as a neutral court-appointed tool in Pakistan by pre-processing evidence and identifying contradictions before trial proceedings begin.

According to him, this could shorten cross-examinations and help judges distinguish disputed and undisputed facts more efficiently.

Regarding AI-assisted judgment drafting, he emphasized that artificial intelligence should not replace judicial authority.

"The AI does not decide guilt or innocence; the judge does. It simply assembles the record," he said.

He added that judges would continue evaluating arguments independently and exercising legal judgment before approving any outcome.

Dr Javed further argued that Pakistan’s case backlog problem was primarily administrative rather than legal, making tools such as algorithm-based scheduling systems practical and ideologically neutral solutions.

He also noted that real-time AI transcription could significantly speed up the appeal process.

However, he cautioned against allowing AI systems to independently investigate facts or assess witness credibility, saying such functions could conflict with Pakistan’s adversarial legal principles.

He stressed that any AI application must remain neutral and support both parties equally rather than replacing the role of judges.

Syed Abdullah Anwer, Advocate of the High Courts of Pakistan, told Wealth Pakistan that a result-oriented approach would be necessary to derive meaningful benefits from expanding Pakistan-China judicial cooperation.

He emphasized the need for structured training sessions and certification mechanisms developed in collaboration with China for both superior and district judiciary personnel.

He also highlighted the importance of standardizing commercial dispute resolution, noting that China had developed specialized Internet Courts and the China International Commercial Court for handling Belt and Road Initiative-related disputes.

Anwer further said Pakistan could benefit from Chinese Smart Court reforms through efficient case-tracking systems and automated scheduling mechanisms.

He explained that AI-powered systems could categorize and prioritize cases based on complexity, allowing judicial officers to focus more on substantive legal issues rather than administrative tasks.

He also highlighted the potential of AI-powered legal research tools capable of scanning decades of case law to provide instant precedent mapping and improve consistency in judicial decisions.

On improving access to justice, Anwer noted that digital transformation through virtual courts and electronic filing systems could particularly benefit Pakistan’s geographically dispersed population.

He said litigants in remote areas could participate in hearings and monitor case progress more easily through digital platforms.

Anwer also recommended exploring China’s use of blockchain-based smart evidence systems, which create tamper-resistant digital records that may prove useful in areas such as land disputes and corporate litigation.

The convergence of Pakistan’s judicial reform needs and China’s technological expertise presents an opportunity to modernize judicial infrastructure while remaining aligned with constitutional and legal principles.

Credit: INP-WealthPk