ISLAMABAD: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Prosecution Academy was inaugurated by provincial chief secretary Dr Shahzad Khan Bangash in Peshawar on Thursday.

The chief secretary said the academy was built over 6.25 acres of government land with the support of the US government through its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

He said the academy had modern training facilities, an administration block with conference and meeting halls, dedicated monitoring and research rooms, computer labs, auditoriums, libraries, and a large residential compound and would train prosecutors, lawyers and other professionals.

Mr Bangash said in addition to curriculum designed for basic and specialised training programmes, the academy also had an e-learning centre.

He applauded the efforts of the US government, UNDP and prosecution directorate. “Prosecution is an important component of the criminal justice chain, and it is a prerequisite for an equitable criminal justice system,” he said.

The chief secretary said the academy would help strengthen the criminal justice system by contributing to the professional growth of present and future prosecutors and legal professionals in the country.

He appreciated the provincial and US governments and UNDP over their efforts to improve prosecution services through well-trained prosecutors and legal professionals.

US Embassy’s INL Director Lori Antolinez, who was also present, said the initiative would pave the way for effective and efficient delivery of justice in the province.

She said the US was committed to strengthening institutions and promoting the rule of law in the country.

UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative Knut Ostby said the academy was designed and constructed to meet the needs of women prosecutors and legal professionals.

He said increasing the women’s representation in institutions ensuring the rule of law was integral to equitable justice service delivery in the country, so it was crucial to ensure an enabling environment for women.

“This Prosecution Academy has a dedicated women’s wing with a hostel and a daycare facility, which will help more women to attend training programmes and advance in their careers. We hope these efforts will encourage more women to join the legal profession,” he said.

Mr Ostby said he hoped that the academy would play a key role in strengthening the capacity of the rule of law professionals, encouraging more women to join and advance in the legal profession, and building a well-trained legal fraternity of highly skilled women and men in the province.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2022