The Executive Judicial Training Programme, "The Judicial Craft," concluded successfully in Baku, Azerbaijan, following four days of intensive lectures, interactive sessions, and professional exchange focused on contemporary judicial practice and justice sector challenges. The programme was organised by the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of Pakistan, and the International Mediation and Arbitration Center (IMAC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan, under the Memorandum of Cooperation between the two Ministries.

The Pakistani delegation of trainers was led by H.E. Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, and comprised Hon'ble Mr. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan; Hon'ble Mr. Justice Jawad Hassan and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf, Judges of the Lahore High Court; Ms. Aisha Rasool, Senior Consultant (Research), Ministry of Law and Justice, Pakistan, and Project Director, IMAC; and Mr. Ehsan Ullah Khan, Registrar, IMAC.

The programme commenced with an inaugural ceremony attended by members of the judiciary, legal professionals, senior representatives of the Ministries of Justice of Pakistan and Azerbaijan, and officials of the Academy of Justice of Azerbaijan.

Addressing the participants, H.E. Barrister Aqeel Malik highlighted the importance of judicial education and professional exchange in strengthening judicial capacity and developing effective justice systems. The opening session also featured remarks by Mr. Rovshan Rahim oglu Ismayilov, Rector of the Academy of Justice of Azerbaijan, and Mr. Adil Fazil oglu Abilov, Director General, Department for International Cooperation, Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan.

Over four days, participants engaged in a comprehensive academic programme comprising lectures and interactive sessions on contemporary judicial administration and the evolving challenges facing courts. The Pakistani faculty shared comparative experiences and international best practices across key areas of justice sector development.

The training covered judicial reform, commercial justice, mediation and arbitration, digital transformation, leadership, and institutional development. The sessions provided participants with practical and comparative perspectives on judicial practice while encouraging professional dialogue and the exchange of experiences between the Pakistani trainers and members of the Azerbaijani judiciary.

The programme was designed to strengthen professional knowledge and capacity by exposing participants to comparative judicial approaches, emerging practices, and international experiences relevant to the effective administration of justice.

The programme concluded with a closing ceremony recognising the contribution of the trainers and participants to judicial education and professional exchange. Ms. Aisha Rasool, Senior Consultant, Ministry of Law and Justice, Pakistan, acknowledged the contribution of the distinguished Pakistani trainers and expressed confidence in the continued development of judicial cooperation through professional education and knowledge exchange.

The successful completion of "The Judicial Craft" reflects the value of structured judicial education and professional exchange in developing judicial capacity and sharing effective practices between judicial institutions.