A significant step towards institutionalising alternative dispute resolution in Pakistan has been taken following a landmark international training programme in the capital, preparing the nation’s largest-ever cohort of mediators for official government accreditation.
According to IBA information today, the five-day intensive workshop was organised by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA-ADRIC). The event took place at the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) in a joint effort with the IHCBA itself and the Judiciary of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Conducted in partnership with the UK-based Essential Mediation Solutions (EMS), the course brought together a diverse assembly of judges, lawyers, business professionals, civil servants, and students, forming the most substantial group to receive such training simultaneously in the country.
Guidance was provided by a panel of international and national specialists, including Emma McAndry, Founder of EMS; Judge Sufiyan Rana of the UK Judiciary; and Bulent Sohail, Head of IBA-ADRIC. The 40-hour curriculum was structured in compliance with Pakistan’s Mediation Accreditation Rules, 2023, and global best practices set by the International Mediation Institute and the UK”s Civil Mediation Council.
Upon successful completion, attendees are now eligible to have their profiles submitted to the Ministry of Law and Justice for notification as accredited mediators, a move that directly contributes to the formalisation of mediation services nationwide.
The closing ceremony was attended by prominent figures including the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, and the Chief Justice of the AJK High Court, Justice Sardar Liaquat Shaheen Hussain. Representatives from the IHCBA, Islamabad Bar Council, and the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry were also present.
The event featured virtual addresses from international observers, including Ms. Yasmin Batliwala, CEO of Advocates for International Development (A4ID), and Ms. Aleena Nasir of the U.S. Department of Commerce”s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), who spoke on the global importance of mediation.
A major outcome of the initiative was an invitation from the AJK Government and Judiciary for IBA-ADRIC to assist in developing a comprehensive ADR framework for the region. Furthermore, a collaboration agreement was finalised with A4ID, and the Continuing Legal Education Institute of Pakistan was officially launched during the ceremony.
The IBA-ADRIC reaffirmed its dedication to establishing mediation as a key pillar of judicial reform through the development of professionally skilled mediators across Pakistan.