ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Sunday called for the adoption of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods to speed up settlement of disputes, with 2.4 million cases pending in courts across the country.
The statement came at a ceremony in Islamabad on the conclusion of a six-day internationally accredited Civil and Commercial Mediation Training Programme by the International Mediation & Arbitration Center (IMAC), established by the Pakistani law ministry.
The program, led by internationally renowned experts Mr. Rahim Shamji, Ms. Sarah Tarar, and Dr. Khalid Hamid Chowdhury, trained judges of the high courts, lawyers, government officers, academicians, and business professionals from across Pakistan.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tarar noted that there is a backlog of 2.4 million cases in Pakistan’s courts, including over 300,000 in the high courts and 1.8 million in district courts, where civil disputes often take up to 15 years to conclude.
“In contrast, ADR provides resolution in an average of just 75 days,” he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Press Information Department.
ADR refers to a method of resolving disputes outside of courts to help parties reach a voluntary, consensual agreement. Key ADR methods include mediation, where a mediator facilitates communication and settlement of disputes, and arbitration, where an arbitrator makes a binding or non-binding decision.
These methods offer advantages like lower costs, faster resolution and improved communication compared to traditional litigation.
Tarar emphasized plans to scale up mediation centers nationwide and strengthen Pakistan’s role as a credible ADR hub, according to the PID. The minister appreciated the IMAC team for not only creating widespread awareness but also training professionals across the country in mediation and arbitration.
Pakistan has introduced a number of judicial reforms in recent months and the country’s top judge, Yahya Afridi, this month said the Supreme Court was working to expand cooperation with judicial bodies in Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia’s Muslim World League, to strengthen its institutional capacity.
Speaking at the ceremony in Islamabad, Justice Shahid Waheed of Pakistan’s Supreme Court underscored mediation as a vital tool to reduce case backlogs, strengthen access to justice, and foster harmony.
He outlined Pakistan’s policy direction on ADR, including the preparation of a ‘Model Law, establishment of court-annexed mediation centers and awareness campaigns
“ADR must be institutionalized, expanded nationwide, and integrated with technology to transform Pakistan’s justice landscape,” the judge said, commending the IMAC’s role in capacity building through internationally accredited training.
