About this Training

The International Mediation and Arbitration Centre conducted two days introductory training on Arbitration for lawyers at Punjab Bar Council Lahore on 21st and 22nd April, 2025. The training was designed to equip and familiarize lawyers with the increasing need for ADR mechanisms in the legal regime of Pakistan focusing on Arbitration.

The Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, while addressing the participants at the opening ceremony of the two-day training on arbitration, emphasized that in light of the overwhelming pendency of cases in courts, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) was not a choice but a necessity. The training was organized by the International Mediation & Arbitration Centre (IMAC), under the Ministry of Law and Justice, in collaboration with the Punjab Bar Council.

The Minister underscored that lawyers were the future of ADR in Pakistan, and such training programs were instrumental in opening new avenues for legal practice, advocacy, and professional growth—especially in a global legal environment where arbitration and mediation were rapidly becoming the norm. He further added that Pakistani lawyers possessed the potential not only to resolve local disputes efficiently through ADR but also to play a significant role in international arbitration, provided they acquired the necessary expertise and training.

Highlighting the government\’s commitment to institutionalizing ADR, the Minister stated that the Ministry of Law and Justice had established IMAC to serve as a national institution for capacity building and to transform the dispute resolution landscape in Pakistan.

His Lordship, Justice Mr. Abid Ali Shiekh graced the closing ceremony as the chief guest. In his address, Justice Sheikh emphasized the growing importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in ensuring timely resolution of disputes and reducing the burden on the judiciary. Commending the initiative, He remarked, “ADR is not merely an option; it is the only way forward.” He further underscored the need to extend such training to smaller stations, particularly to facilitate female lawyers who may face limitations in accessing training opportunities in major urban centres. Justice Sheikh also advocated for integrating ADR into legal education curricula and called for the continuation of such programs nationwide.

Key Highlights

• Comprehensive curriculum on arbitration fundamentals.
• Practical case studies and interactive workshops.
• Expert trainers with extensive experience.
• Focus on legal framework and ethical considerations.
• Enhances skills for effective dispute resolution.
• Ideal for legal professionals and judicial officers.