Islamabad: Federal Minister for Law and Justice visited participants of a six-day training programme on mediation organized by the International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (IMAC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Law and Justice at COMSTECH, Islamabad, and engaged in an interactive session with attendees.

According to Press Information Department, the Minister praised the array of participants, which included parliamentarians, legal professionals, judicial officers, government officials, and ADR practitioners from across Pakistan. He commended the efforts of the IMAC team, led by Project Director Ms. Aisha Rasool, and the internationally accredited trainers for conducting the training in line with international standards.

Addressing the critical need for dispute resolution reforms, the Minister highlighted the backlog of over 2.26 million pending cases in Pakistan’s courts, with civil disputes taking up to 15 years to resolve and commercial disputes approximately 1,073 days. He noted that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is becoming an integral part of modern justice systems worldwide.

The Minister reiterated the Government of Pakistan’s dedication to bolstering mediation and ADR, citing initiatives such as the signing of the Singapore Convention on Mediation, the ratification of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), and the establishment of IMAC under the Ministry of Law and Justice.

He revealed that IMAC has provided foundational mediation and arbitration training to over 1,300 individuals, including judges, lawyers, civil servants, businesspersons, and students across Pakistan, and that 100 participants have completed internationally accredited ADR training under IMAC.

The Minister emphasized the significance of accredited training programmes in cultivating skilled ADR professionals capable of managing complex disputes effectively. He urged participants to act as mediation ambassadors within their organizations and communities, to engage in continuous learning, international collaboration, and to apply their newly acquired skills in practice.

In conclusion, the Minister reaffirmed the Ministry of Law and Justice’s commitment to institutionalizing ADR and fostering a culture of dialogue, consensus, and peaceful dispute resolution in Pakistan.