About this Training

Organized by the International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (IMAC), under the Ministry of Law and Justice, in collaboration with the OIC Arbitration Centre (OIC-AC) Türkiye, this landmark conference was held at the COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad. The event focused on aligning Pakistan’s legal ecosystem with international best practices to bolster investor trust and economic stability.

The conference was graced by Mr. Justice Shahid Waheed, Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, as Chief Guest. In a significant policy announcement, he revealed the establishment of a dedicated Mediation Centre at the Supreme Court of Pakistan and emphasized that robust ADR systems are essential partners to strong courts in advancing national economic objectives.

Mr. Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Railways and Finance, attended as Guest of Honor. He highlighted the critical need for ADR in tax and revenue matters and discussed proposed legislative amendments to the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, aimed at streamlining fiscal disputes and reducing litigation burdens.

Under the personal vision and hands-on guidance of Raja Naeem Akbar (HI), Federal Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, the conference explored the institutional growth of IMAC. H.E. Dr. Umar A. Oseni, Secretary General of the OIC-AC, reaffirmed the commitment to developing harmonized and internationally credible arbitration standards across OIC Member States.

The first session, moderated by Mr. Ehsan Ullah Khan, Registrar (IMAC), delved into predictability and transparency in ADR outcomes. Distinguished panelists included Mr. Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan (SIFC), and senior legal experts such as Mr. Ahmer Bilal Soofi, Mr. Feisal Hussain Naqvi, and Mian Sheraz Javaid.

The second session, moderated by Mr. Gulfam Hameed, Deputy Director LMC, Ministry of Law and Justice, Pakistan, focused on mediation for investment stability. Panelists including Raja Naeem Akbar (HI), Mr. Adil Aziz Qazi, Ms. Sarah Tarar, Dr. Nudrat E. Piracha, and Mr. Shahzar Ilahi discussed strategies for dispute prevention and early settlement to ensure long-term investor security.

Key Highlights

• Announcement of a dedicated Mediation Centre at the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
• Integration of ADR mechanisms into tax and revenue legal frameworks.
• Strategic collaboration between IMAC and OIC Arbitration Centre (OIC-AC) Türkiye.
• Expert deliberations on predictability and transparency in commercial disputes.
• Focus on mediation as a tool for investment stability and dispute prevention.
• High-level participation from SIFC, SECP, and international legal practitioners.